 It is now time for Question Period, the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My question to Premier, one of the common issues I hear from parents is very concerned about their sons and daughters. It usually characterizes it that their daughter has her university degree or son has a college diploma. They thought by this time in life they'd be on their own. Their own place, making their way in the world, their own career path. But the back home with mum and dad, instead of occupying a job, they're occupying the couch. They're getting frustrated with these problems. When asked when you will produce your jobs plan on Friday, you told the media to ask you in six months. Premier, it is unacceptable to wait another six months after nine months of delay and ten lost years. Premier, when will we actually see your jobs plan tabled? These people cannot wait another six months. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to put the comment in context because when I was asked, Mr. Speaker, the Youth Employment Fund, the $295 million that we are investing to put supports in place for young people, that fund had opened on September 23rd, Mr. Speaker. I was asked by the media a couple of days after, and I said, of course we want results, but it was a bit too early. In fact, Mr. Speaker, as of today, according to the Ministry, there are 535 Youth Employment Fund placements across the province, 126 more than anticipated. So, Mr. Speaker, in fact, the results... You know, Speaker, I remember when the PC government set the stage for a million new jobs in the province of Ontario. You know, frankly, Premier, we had agreed with you to... Waiting. Keep it down. Please finish. You know, Premier, we'd agreed with you. You had suggested a number of bills. We agreed to pass those bills in a programming motion with the goal of clearing the deck so we could focus on jobs and the economy. The programming motion was tabled a couple of days ago, and your only response to date was to tell everybody to wait six months, and then to launch a website, I guess, which was noplan.ca on the weekend. Waiting six months is far, far too long. Our plan is out there. I beg you, steal any ideas on our plan, bring something forward, actually put people who work in entrepreneurs' back and business in a project. Well, Mr. Speaker, I remember when the PC government brought havoc across this province in terms of our education system and our healthcare system. Mr. Speaker, and in fact, many of us are here because of the undermining of the contracts that we had in this province in terms of civil society that were really blown apart by the PC government, Mr. Speaker. So what I would say to the member opposite is that we have a plan in place, and evidence of that, Mr. Speaker, is investment in the Ford plant, Mr. Speaker. $70.9 million that we put in place to protect more than 2,800 jobs, Mr. Speaker. Our introducing of the Small Business Act that will help 60,000 small businesses by helping them with their payroll tax, Mr. Speaker. The Youth Employment Fund, Mr. Speaker, which I have already said today, is showing results, 535 placements across the province according to the ministry, Mr. Speaker. So there is much already underway. And, Mr. Speaker, our ongoing connection with the people of Ontario is very important. Final supplementary. Well, you know, quite frankly, these are all warmed-over ideas that you stole from the NDP. And we saw it in an incredible mess, but they're applauding that. But we know in an incredible mess the NDP made of this province. They drove her economy in addition. We're not going there again. Mr. Speaker, no questions asked. Take any of our ideas. There's no charge. We actually want to get on with the job of creating jobs in the province of Ontario. In Ontario, that's number one for jobs and last-in-debt, and not the other way around. We put ideas on the table that get energy costs under control to make sure we lower the cost of doing business by lowering taxes. To actually moving forward with apprenticeship reform so young people get jobs in the trades in Ontario, not Saskatchewan and Alberta. Pick all three. Pick one. But surely Premier, pick something that's part of the job. Let's get on with it. Let's move our province forward and create some jobs. So Mr. Speaker, here's some reverbers from the PC party at our provincial council on the weekend had heard what I said. They would know that investing in people, investing in the infrastructure that's necessary, Mr. Speaker, and investing in a dynamic business climate, Mr. Speaker, that is the plan. That's the framework. That's what we're doing and all the specifics, Mr. Speaker. Shouting people down is not really what we should be doing here. Please. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I really, you know, I reject the notion that's coming from the other side that driving down which is a powerful legislation that would undermine all of the good work that organized labor has done for the last decades, firing 10,000 education workers, Mr. Speaker, and firing 2,000 healthcare workers. Mr. Speaker, that's not a plan. That's just a blueprint for destroying the province once again. We're not going to go there, Mr. Speaker. You know, Speaker, well, young women and men are facing a job market worse than the Rust Belt States. Well, the Premier's only response is to tell them to wait six months for her plan and to launch a new website, we have no idea.ca. She is rewarding. She is rewarding, however, the Pan Am executives and board members whose expenses I'm sure the Premier will agree are a one-ton abuse of taxpayer dollars. Premier, you said you would be different. You said that you would not follow the same pattern of behavior or the culture of entitlement of the Dalton McGinty liberals. Let me ask you then, Premier, when did you become aware of this abuse of taxpayer money at the Pan Am Games? Premier? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I agree with the leader of the opposition that there are expenses within that report. They're unacceptable. And three weeks ago, the minister responsible for the Pan Am Games, Mr. Speaker, asked the board to review their policies, strengthen them where appropriate. It's unacceptable that public dollars would be spending that way, Mr. Speaker. And my hope is that all the other two levels of government, both the city and the federal government, will take the same action, Mr. Speaker, because we have already taken action on tightening up those rules. Thank you, Supplementary. Thank you, Premier. But with all due respect, doing another study is not taking action, ending the free ride on the backs of taxpayers. That's actually taking action, and you should get on with that job. According to Pan Am executives, there was a provincial audit. There's an audit done, supervised by the province, I think a number of months ago. And it says that they passed that audit. So I'll ask you this, Premier, will you table today the results of that provincial audit and then tell us exactly what you did when you found out about this extraordinary abuse of taxpayer funds? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I've already said the minister responsible for Pan Am Games has told the board that the rules need to be tightened. The rules were followed, but they need to be tightened up, Mr. Speaker, and that is what is happening. What I think we need to do is make sure that all levels of government, because all three levels of government are involved, Mr. Speaker, in getting ready for the Pan Am Games, we need to make sure that everybody is taking the same tack and that those rules are tightened. The Pan Am Games are going to be fantastic. The Pan Am Games are going to shine a light on this province, that will host the different events. So, Mr. Speaker, we need to make sure that all the rules are tightened as the minister has asked, and we need to get ready for the best Pan Am Parapan Games ever, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Final supplementary. We have the best hopes for the Pan Am Games and the Parapan Games. We know it can be a success, but it can't be. We can't have that kind of success when you see this kind of abuse of taxpayer dollars, expending anything from Starbucks coffees to lavish trips and dinners for the executives. I mean, if they've reached that culture of entitlement two years before the Games take place, Speaker, how bad is it going to be in two years' time? So, the test for that, Mr. Speaker, what are you actually going to do about this? And I want to give credit where credit is due. My colleague, the member from Barry Rodgers, has risen time and time again in this house to point out accountability problems. If your minister is a well, if you're not looking out for taxpayer dollars, then Rod Jackson and the P.C. Caucus is prepared to do so. Will you join our call for the audit to do a complete review of Pan Am expenses to make sure they're going to the right place and not this kind of abuse? Thank you. Thank you. Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We've already taken action. The minister has already given instruction to the board to tighten the rules, Mr. Speaker. We are already reacting to what I agree with the leader of the opposition. The rules should be tighter. There should not be that kind of entitlement. So, we've already taken action, Mr. Speaker. You know, I think that we need to make sure that the dollars are spent wisely, that there's good judgment in place and that the rules are appropriate. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, I hope that the leader of the opposition and the leader of the third party will join with me and join with the federal government and with the municipal government to make sure that these are the best para-pan-pan games ever, Mr. Speaker, that we showcase Ontario in the very best light and that we involve people from all communities, Mr. Speaker, including school children who can be inspired by these fantastic athletes. That's our objective, Mr. Speaker. The member from Bruce Gray on sound will come to order. Get the hint. New question, leader of the third party. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. When I met face-to-face with the Premier just weeks ago, she told me that closure motions that shut off debate weren't in her plans. Now the Premier is supporting a motion to shut down debate on a series of bills, including one custom designed to help construction giant, Alice Dawn, one of her party's biggest owners. Why did she forget to mention that to me at our meeting, Mr. Speaker? Very much, Mr. Speaker. We did not have an explicit discussion about programming motions, and I think the leader of the third party knows that, Mr. Speaker. What we talked about was our ability to move ahead, to get some legislation passed, on which there is agreement. And within the programming motion, Mr. Speaker, there is the opportunity for debate. There's the movement of bills to committee and lots of opportunity for input, not just from members of the House, but from people outside in the public, Mr. Speaker. So I think that what we have put forward is absolutely consistent with the conversations I had with both the leader of the opposition and the leader of the third party, where I said, you know what, where there's agreement, let's move this legislation ahead. There are lots of areas where there's disagreement, but let's try to move ahead where we can find that common ground. Mr. Speaker, the Premier likes to talk about worthy bills being slowed down in the House, but the bill written for Alice Dawn through the House passed dozens of other bills with a fraction of the debate despite significant controversy. In our meeting, the Premier never once mentioned this bill. How did it suddenly become such a priority, Mr. Speaker? Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, here's the reality, Mr. Speaker. There are three parties in this House. There's our party, there's the Progressive Conservatives, and there's the NDP, Mr. Speaker. And so when I had a meeting with the leader of the third party, she's right. This particular bill didn't come up. When we met with the leader of the opposition, Mr. Speaker, that is a bill that the leader of the opposition wanted to put forward, Mr. Speaker. So the reality is that in a minority government, we need to work all of us together. And so I'm working with both the opposition and with the leader of the third party, Mr. Speaker, and that's how the particular mix of bills got into the programming motion, Mr. Speaker. Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, a lot of people have raised serious questions about the Liberals' eagerness to ram legislation through the House at the behest of a single well-connected company. This issue is still being fought in the courts. But instead of respecting that process, the Liberals are working with the Conservatives in an undemocratic attempt to ram through changes at the behest of one well-connected company. Why won't the Premier respect the process and stop her undemocratic attempts to ram this bill through this House? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I think the leader of the third party knows that all of the bills that are within the programming motion will go to committee. They will be subject to a vote, Mr. Speaker. This is a private member's bill that was put on the list of bills that the opposition was interested in moving ahead on, Mr. Speaker. So I think to characterize a programming motion that's going to go through debate in the House, debated committee, and debate in the House again, to characterize that as ramming, Mr. Speaker, I think is a really misrepresentation of what's actually going to happen. This is a bill that was put forward by the opposition, by a private member, and it is part of the overall programming motion, which includes, Mr. Speaker, many pieces of legislation that I know the leader of the third party and her members support. Thank you. New question? Leader of the third party? Mr. Speaker, our next question is also for the Premier. Can the Premier tell us whether she or her staff discussed the Alice Donbill with the Chinese colleges and universities come to order? We're working on behalf of that company in the last six months. Thank you, Premier. Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure of the scope of the leader of the third party's question. What I know is that this is a private member's bill that was brought forward by a member of the PC caucus. And, Mr. Speaker, within that programming motion, there are a number of pieces of legislation that I know that the leader of the third party and her members support. So the Local Food Act, the tanning bed legislation, Mr. Speaker, that will prevent cancer in young people, consumer protections, the wireless phone contract, rules to help consumers. My hope is, Mr. Speaker, that the leader of the third party will be able to support those and doesn't think that we should drag out the process around those pieces of legislation because we all support them and we should move those ahead. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, that there was another private member's bill that was brought forward. But I hope that the leader of the third party will support those pieces of legislation that her members have already claimed they support. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, published reports indicate that the bill was crafted by lobbyists at Strategy Corp as a conservative private member's bill, so it wouldn't look like the liberals were violating collective agreements yet again. Can the premier confirm or deny that? The fact is, Mr. Speaker, the private member's bill that the member of the opposition is brought forward. My hope is that the leader of the third party will see that the pieces of legislation that we're bringing forward. So the Local Food Act, the tanning bed legislation, the consumer protections, Mr. Speaker, that she will understand that that programming motion is intended to deal with those pieces of legislation where we can find agreement. And many of them, there's agreement among all parties in the House, Mr. Speaker. So that was my objective in meeting with her and meeting with the leader of the opposition to find a way to move ahead those pieces of legislation where there was agreement. I think that's how Minority Parliament should work, Mr. Speaker. We will accept that as these pieces of legislation go through, they will go to committee, there will be input, and they will come back to the House for a vote. That's how it needs to work, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Final supplementary. When I met with the premier two weeks ago at the beginning of this session, the challenges facing Alistair weren't even on the agenda. At the time, the premier actually agreed that the challenges facing families in this province should be our main priority. But now we see a bill being championed by well-connected liberal and conservative insiders working on behalf of a company making billions of dollars annually somehow people will talk about government priority. When is the premier going to stop the excuses and the evasions and explain to people why she's making it her priority to help well-connected insiders? House, Mr. Speaker, is to create jobs and light a fire under the economy by investing in people, by investing in infrastructure and investing in a business climate, Mr. Speaker, that is going to bring business to this province and is going to create jobs. That's our priority. And that's what's happening, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure that the leaders of the third party will be happy to know that already the 295 million dollar youth employment fund is creating those jobs, is creating those placements since, Mr. Speaker, end of September 23rd. So that's our priority, Mr. Speaker. And we'll stay our priority as we continue to work with the members of the opposition. My question is to the premier. Premier, early in my business career I learned to get the outcomes you want. You need to inspect what you expect. Premier, you permitted the minister of the pay-and-am games to use taxpayers' money to write a blank check for all the needs and wants of the multi-million dollar TO 2015 executive, including things like Starbucks coffee, a pet travel, travel for pets, Advil. Premier, talk is cheap. Will you remedy this today and ask them to repay all expenses that were made in bad faith? Yes or no? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, let me just say, I have already answered this question. I've already said that the minister responsible for the Pan Parade for Pan Games has instructed the board to tighten up those rules. But, Mr. Speaker, the member, hold on, the member of the opposition makes a very good suggestion. If there are expenses that are inappropriate and are not within the rules and need... Member from Bruce Gray, Owen Sound, come to order. Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The member of the opposite makes a good point. If there are expenses that fall outside of the rules that have not been paid back, then they should be paid back. I agree, Mr. Speaker. Can I give a supplement to that file? That's good. We're getting somewhere here maybe today. Premier, it's important you're right that the Pan Am Games shine the light on TO. Not shine a light on the endemic waste that's going on on your government. Premier, the minister's credibility for the Pan Am oversight has diminished with one spanning scandal after another. The TO 2015 Organizing Committee executive salaries are greater than that of the Prime Minister, the police chief of Toronto, and the mayor of Toronto. Plus, let's not forget the significant bonuses they get just for completing their job. You don't even know what those numbers are yet. Then let's talk about the duplicate 62 person secret secretariat costing us an extra 2.8 million dollars per year in administrative costs each year and counting. And the latest, unlimited expense accounts. Just what this government doesn't need, not what the people of Ontario need. Will you allow the auditor general oversight of your latest scandal plague portfolio? He already said that the minister is responsible as talk to the board and is instructed that the rules be changed. And also, Mr. Speaker, let's remember that all levels of government, federal, provincial and municipal are involved in the administration of the Pan-Para-Pan Games, Mr. Speaker. And let's also remember, Mr. Speaker, that this is a very significant investment of dollars and of energy into what will be job creation. Mr. Speaker, 26,000 jobs showcasing Ontario to visit as a wonderful venue, Mr. Speaker. So, this is an extremely important investment in the future of Ontario and I agree with the member opposite that where there are rules that need to be tightened, they absolutely should be and that's why the minister has already instructed the board to do so, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the premier, last year the premier told reporters quote, I have never thought that we should legislate collective bargaining. Why is she now breaking that promise with the imposition of bill 74? Minister of Labor, Mr. Speaker. Minister of Labor. Thank you very much, Speaker, and I appreciate the question from the member opposite. I think in relation to the particular bill he's raising, I do want to inform the House and I'm sure members know that late Friday afternoon we received a decision, Speaker, from the divisional court that looked into the decision of the Ontario Labor Relations Board in relation that's been raised in that particular bill and in the review of the decision the court have quashed the decision of the Ontario Labor Relations Board. Speaker, we are of course closely reviewing the decision. It was came late Friday and we'll have a better understanding of what that decision means but it seems like at the moment that the company can continue to operate on the decision of the divisional court, Speaker. Thank you. Supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. The minister is right that the decision is still before the divisional courts but why intervene through this legislation? Why intervene in collective bargaining rights? It defies logic through this House. This special Alice Donbill has the potential to completely negate hundreds of existing Labor agreements which have nothing to do with that company. Does the premier think that the interests of one major donor is so important that she's willing to ram through a bill that will help the one singular company and negate hundreds of existing functional agreements between workers and employees? Thank you. Let me just try one more time and correct the member opposite. The divisional court has rendered a decision. It came out late Friday afternoon. In that decision the divisional court reviewed the decision of the Ontario Labor Relations Board that is subject to Bill 74 and have found have quashed the decision of the Ontario Labor Relations Board and gives a pretty strong indication that the status call as it relates to the company in question stays in tech. We are reviewing the decision. It came late Friday afternoon and we'll have a better sense in coming days as to the meaning of the decision. Thank you. Question? You have a question to the member from Scarborough Rouge River? Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the minister responsible for seniors affairs. Today is older adults day at Queens Park. Many seniors, groups and advocates from Ontario to meet with local MPPs. Among those participating I would like to specifically recognize those visiting from my riding of Scarborough Rouge River who are here in the gallery. I thank them for their work and advocacy. Speaker, one thing that I've been hearing from constituents in my riding is on the issue of safety and security for older Ontarians. Speaker, can the minister please inform this House that some ways this government is protecting seniors in Ontario? Question? Thank you. Minister responsible for seniors. Thank you very much, Speaker. Through you, I want to thank the Honourable Member for his question. It is a good question. Let me say, Speaker, that you, Speaker and every member in the House and the member from Scarborough Rouge River have the firm commitment of this government and mine to save an environment whatever that may be, Speaker. And with respect to the government we are the first one in Ontario and in Canada, Speaker to introduce a strategy to combat elder abuse which is a strategy aimed, Speaker to improve the coordination of community resources to build capacity of frontline staff and to increase public awareness as well. We have already committed to spend invested, I should say, $8 million and $900,000 on a yearly basis and for me, Speaker doesn't matter where seniors live. They live in one Ontario and they all deserve to be living in confidence and in dignity. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Speaker. It is good to hear that our government has taken serious efforts to ensure seniors are being protected. As a matter of fact I'm hosting a community health fair at Malvern Town Centre this Saturday. This information will be something I will make sure to pass along to seniors. Many seniors that I will meet this Saturday will want to know that they will be able to live in their own homes for as long as possible. Staying at home provides them the independence and dignity that they need and deserve. Mr. Speaker, can the minister please tell us what this government is doing to ensure seniors are getting better care they need so they may remain living in their own homes. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the minister of health and healthcare. Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member for this very important question one that touches so many of us. Speaker, one of the most important goals of our action plan for healthcare is to help seniors stay at home with the right supports make sure seniors have that opportunity because home is where we all want to be, Speaker. It's better than being in hospital or having to move to long-term care. So we are increasing funding to the community sector. In fact, Speaker, this year a 6% increase over last year. That's $260 million more this year than last year. Speaker, 3 million more hours of personal support working care over three years and we're investing in 30,000 more bills by our doctors, Speaker. Our healthy home renovation tax credit is helping seniors retrofit their homes so they can safely live in them longer. Speaker, this means more Ontarians are going to be able to live where they want to live in their own home for as long as possible. Thank you. Your question? Madam Premier, I received a copy of the TTC report prepared by CEO Andy Biford to be commissioned last week and it comments on your plan to put the subway extension through Scarborough. I hope that you and your caucus have had an opportunity to review this report because there are several things in here that would tell anybody that what you're proposing is just not feasible or right. I'd like to quote some of the things from the plan if I could. Firstly, slower operation with maximum curves and maximum grades there are six speed reduction zones here where the train can only go 50 to 55 kilometers instead of 80. This increases overall trip and passenger time. My question is also that there's three to four hundred million dollars not accounted for in the funding and I want to know when you're going to meet with the TTC forward with the Toronto Council plan. Thank you. Thank you. Premier. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. Thank you Mr. Speaker. The engineers at both Metrolinx and TTC talk and work together week to week on a regular basis I think that Mr. Biford was very clear that this is technically feasible. There is a great deal of work being done on looking at the different options and our report will be released. You'll notice in that report Mr. Speaker such basic things as ridership were absent and it is very early going. Also a lot of the assumptions that the members opposite is making may not be entirely accurate. What we do have is a real critical need in the plan to stick to the existing plan and to go where people are which is where the Scarborough Town Centre is Mr. Speaker and we will continue to work with the city and the federal government now that there is appearance of some funds there to complete the project. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker last time I asked if they would please if the government would please let us know when they plan to open their first subway station in Toronto. Now I would like to read from Hansard what he gave me. The minister said we will shortly within the next few years have a better record than the party opposite. The next few years Mr. Speaker is very vague. It's not a fair answer for the opposition and it's certainly not a fair answer for the citizens of Toronto. I want to know when they're going to open their first subway station the score is 64 to nothing. They've been in power for 10 years and it's about time they did something. We are about to open dozens of subway and LRT stations at an unprecedented rate across the DTHA Mr. Speaker. Here we go back to the basic problem. We have a $50 billion 15 project major move to deal with congestion. Mr. Speaker this is unprecedented. This means that people in Scarborough and Etobicoke in North Toronto won't be waiting 40 minutes for a bus. They will get high speed, high quality transit that they waited for. They didn't get it when the party was opposite power. They didn't put a penny in it and Mr. Speaker the party opposite still in power has hardly funded it. We're funding 90% of the big move cost. The federal government 3.85% Our friends at City Hall appear like they're getting into the game for the first time. We welcome that Mr. Speaker we'll work on them to accelerate all 15 and solve a larger problem Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Premier John Duffy is a lobbyist with strategy group that is registered to work on behalf of LSDont. Mr. Duffy touts his close relationship with you on the strategy website. Noting that he worked with you Noting that he worked on the Premier's leadership campaign last winter on April 19th he registered to lobby on behalf of LSDont has the Premier met with Mr. Duffy and if so did she discuss this bill. Mr. Speaker it's quite unbelievable that the new Democratic Party which put together helped draft a motion of this House which programed the financial accountability officer legislation who voted for it, who voted for closure on it and now upset because we're putting forward a similar programming motion dealing with eight bills in the establishment of a select committee on developmental services. Mr. Speaker all the programming motion does is allow for debate and discussion in a program way as it would be put forward in a way which will allow a smooth passage but will allow debate and discussion there will be committee time on this bill that he's so concerned about there will be time for amendments there will be time for votes at all stages Mr. Speaker it's just a little bit passing that when it's to the FAO it's okay but when it's a programming motion with these eight bills suddenly their sensibilities are offended back to the Premier and hopefully I'll get an answer this time the issue is that Mr. Duffy registered to lobby on April 19th and within days that particular bill was custom made and was introduced into this house and within weeks it sailed past the vote with an enthusiastic support of the Liberal Caucus so I ask you again will the Premier I repeat will the Premier tell us what meeting Mr. Duffy organized with you and with anybody else on your staff Mr. Speaker they're all going to your leader's gala and my honourable friend has questions about the particular bill perhaps he should be asking a member from Kent Middlesex who brought forward this private members bill Mr. Speaker this private members bill came forward it had debate and discussion it's second reading and a vote and all this programming motion does Mr. Speaker is ensure that it is addressed by a committee there'll be an opportunity again for debate discussion, amendments, witnesses to come forward Mr. Speaker and the honourable member can ask all the questions that he wants but as I say Mr. Speaker if he has a question about who met with who perhaps he should address it to the member for Lampton Kent Middlesex Thank you, new question member from Mississauga East Cooksville Thank you Speaker, you know Speaker if you've been out of a job and you're worried about where your next rent is going to come from often a temp agency can be a life saver they allow you to pay the rent and put food on the table while you wait for that permanent job and there's another thing I've learned Speaker is that these temp agencies often provide something very valuable and they often think Canadian work experience for new immigrants so they really do provide a very important service however Speaker at the same time I do hear concerns from my constituents about employment standards and health and safety issues that are facing them in the work life Member from Hamilton Mountain come to order and Speaker the fact is that the most vulnerable of our workers are the least likely to complain about these abuses and so it's important for somebody like me to come on their behalf and ask questions My question to the minister is what are you doing to ensure the rights of my constituents Thank you very much Speaker I really do want to thank the member for asking a very important question an issue that I hear quite often about and I want the member to know that her constituents can rest assured that we are out there as the ministry of labour in workplaces across the province ensuring that workers know their rights and that employers are living up to their responsibilities. On the issue of temporary work agencies I want to give a special credit for the members from Brempton Springdale and the member from Brempton West for being tremendous advocates on this issue. In fact Speaker was a member from Brempton West who brought a private members bill in terms of regulating temporary work agencies back in 2006 and I'm very proud to say that our government in 2009 first government, first provincial government in Canada brought a special credit for regulating temporary work agencies and under the law we've made sure that employees are not unfairly prevented from being hired directly by employers their agencies are prohibited from charging fees to workers for such things as resume writing and interview preparation and requiring agencies to provide information to workers about their rights and employment standards act Thank you Speaker and thank you to the minister for that great answer it's really good to know that our government has put in place all of these rules and regulations to protect our workers however Speaker I do have to say that a rule is only as good as its enforcement so if this minister can tell me what his ministry is doing to make sure that these rules are being enforced Thank you very much enforcement is a very important question I want to give credit to my predecessor the former minister of labour from brempton springdale for actually initiating the first ever blitz for proactive enforcement in the temporary work agencies as a result our inspectors visited about 100 temporary work agencies and laid about over 200 work orders to ensure that the law that we brought in 2009 is fully complied with similarly Speaker a few weeks ago I did a round table in brempton talking to constituents along with the members from brempton springdale and brempton west and assured them that we're doing everything in our power to inform constituents in fact we have information about temporary work agencies available in 23 different languages I encourage all to go to Ontario.ca Thank you for getting that information Thank you Speaker Thank you Mr Speaker My question is to the premier and concerns the horse racing industry that industry was devastated when without warning the liberals pulled the plug out from under it they then struck a panel of former politicians to clean up the mess it made at a cost of over a half a million dollars so far this weekend we learned that Woodbine entertainment paid out 51 million dollars in bonuses over 12 years the global mail reports that the CEO is believed to have earned just over a million dollars last year Speaker the liberals have been in office for 10 long years Premier why have you failed so measurably when it comes to enforcing basic standards of accountability Thanks very much Mr Speaker Our government believes in a strong sustainable future for the horse racing industry in Ontario Our plan is guided by the work that's being done by the horse race The panel is led by three very honourable gentlemen John Wilkinson, John Snowblad and Albert Buchanan Premier Witt has asked the panel to develop a comprehensive five year plan and Mr Speaker our government will continue to work with Ontario's great horse racing community to ensure that racing remains vibrant in the years to come and I do have a quote from John Snowblad quote SARP needed to end $10 million of slot dollars had perverse effect in turning the industry away from its fans and customers There is no doubt that is no longer no John Snowblad a member of the horse racing transition panel Mr Speaker No supplementary Mr Speaker the issues at Woodbine took place right under this government's nose Horse breeders themselves were raising questions which the liberals ignored Obviously they have no capacity it's so much easier for them to just look the other way but the horse racing industry is much bigger than one racetrack Instead of dealing with the issues at Woodbine the liberals targeted an entire industry talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater they deliberately jeopardized 60,000 jobs mainly in rural Ontario 9,000 of those jobs are already gone my question is this why should 60,000 people have to pay the price for this government's own breakdown of accountability Thank you I'll wait Minister Mr Speaker as John Snowblad said there was a lack of and he has many members of the side opposite the lack of transparency accountability in this PC initiated slots and racetracks program exactly where the member from Northumberland come to order, the member for Simcoe North come to order, the member from Leeds-Grenville come to order and the member from Durham come to order all I did and so did the member from I want the member from Prince Edward Hastings to relax finish your answer please Mr Speaker Mr Speaker I'm quite shocked today that the former Minister Mr Snowblad I'm not a former out here that goes for everyone answer please Mr Speaker I want to reiterate what Mr Snowblad said again SART needed to end hundreds of billions of dollars and slot dollars had the perverse effect of turning the industry away from its fans and customers there is no doubt one question is no longer doubt Mr. Speaker thank you when I stand you sit new question the member from Bramley Gordon Moulton thank you very much Mr Speaker my question is to the Premier in the past Mr Speaker in the past the government has made it clear that they don't legislate or even comment on issues that are still before the courts given that the issues between employees are still before the courts why is this government changing the rules very much Mr Speaker and I know the Minister of Labor will want to comment on the supplementary but I just want to be clear that the the divisional court rendered a decision Mr Speaker and so we are reviewing that the Minister of Labor made it very clear Mr Speaker that we as we understand it the status quo can pertain vis-a-vis Elaston a 15 day I believe a period where there may be an appeal but the divisional court has rendered a decision Mr Speaker thank you supplementary thank you very much Mr Speaker Mr Speaker a question to again to the Premier what we know is that the government is still trying to figure out the impact of this decision for 10 long years we've heard the courts use as an excuse by this government whether it's the parents of children with autism fighting for IBI treatment or part-time college instructors the Liberal government has hidden behind the phrase it's before the courts but when Elaston is fighting for a matter before the courts the Liberals scramble to change the laws why? Minister of Labor first of all let's just state the fact again that this is a private members bill that we're dealing with this is not a government bill number one, number two as I mentioned earlier and as the Premier restated that late Friday afternoon we have received a decision on the divisional court on the to the decision of the Ontario Labor Relations Board the decision is by three justices reviewed the decision of the Ontario Labor Relations Board and after thorough analysis they have quashed the decision that was made by the Ontario Labor Relations Board in fact they made the applied the principle of stop and made the stopper permanent the decision came late Friday we of course very closely reviewing the decision at the moment I encourage the members opposite to read the decision as well thank you Thank you. Thank you Speaker my question through you is to the Minister of Rural Affairs Minister Ontario small and rural communities have many unique and diverse challenges when it comes to infrastructure ensuring roads bridges and other critical infrastructure are maintained and upgraded requires significant investment which many municipalities find costly according to a recent city of Ottawa building a little livable Ottawa focus on rural issues fixing improving rural roads was identified as the main priority for residents my constituents and residents across Ontario want to know how their government is supporting municipalities with these critical investments Speaker through you to the Minister of Rural Affairs could the minister please update the House and what our government is doing to help rural municipalities fund infrastructure projects Minister of Rural Affairs Thank you Mr. Speaker I'm sorry I forgot about our leads first question investing in local infrastructure is critical for rural municipalities of one of our government's main priorities in the 2013 budget we announced a new $100 million fund for infrastructure at small rural and northern communities over the summer my calling minister buried I crisscrossed Ontario hosting 10 consultations to discuss the funds scope and size we heard from over 500 50 hours of consultation. This is in addition to the nearly 90 billion dollars investments under the EMPTRIPLE-I program announced this summer. These investments will help rural municipalities build roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure to keep our communities moving forward. We'll have more to say on this in the coming days, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for that answer. My constituents will be pleased to hear that our government is committed to investing in infrastructure. One of the main concerns I've heard has been a desire for a permanent, stable source of funding. As a consulting engineer, I work for many of these municipalities. They have prepared detailed asset management plans, but now need the predictable funding associated with a permanent fund so they can better plan. Bringing this ability will allow small and rural municipalities to properly build and maintain key roads and bridges for years to come. Speaker, through you to the Minister of Rural Affairs, could the Minister please update the House of what our government is doing to ensure municipalities have stable, predictable funding for infrastructure? Minister? Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I want to thank again the excellent member from Otto Orleans for his supplementary. We know that one of the main priorities of rural Ontario is predictable, stable funding. Premier Wendt stood at her attention to make infrastructure funding permanent. We're looking to the advice we received over the summer as we build on what the permanent infrastructure fund could look like. Our government is working with rural communities, providing the support they deserve. But, Mr. Speaker, don't take my word here. Here's what a very fine Mayor from Aurelia said. Mayor Angela Orsey had to say, quote, I applaud the Wendt government for reaching out to rural municipalities to understand their concerns with respect to infrastructure funding. I'm confident, Mr. Speaker, by working together, we could continue to strengthen rural communities through key investments in infrastructure. And, sir, thank you. Question, the member from Nipissie. Thank you, Speaker. Good morning. My question is for the Premier. Premier, on page 96 of your 2012 budget, it lists the savings of $265 million for the sale of Ontario and Northland. But, in a confidential advice to Cabinet, there was a document entitled Fiscal Implications at Variance from the 2012 budget. It states you won't, indeed, save $265 million that was budgeted. Instead, it will cost you $790 million for this fire sale. Premier, that spread leaves a billion-dollar hole in your budget. According to the documents, you knew this when your 2013 budget was presented. So I'm asking you a simple question. When are you going to come clean with the taxpayers of Ontario about the billion-dollar hole in the liberal budget? Minister of Northern Development and Mines. I'm glad to have an opportunity to address this issue, particularly as I think the member from Nipissie's approach has been alarmist and not at all helpful. And, by the way, not even remotely accurate in terms of how we are approaching the opportunity we have to transform the Northland Transportation Commission. Certainly, when we were looking at options for the ONTC, I think it's fair to say the government has a responsibility and a duty to assess all associated liabilities. I think that would be described as a prudent part of responsible governance. But the numbers that Mr. or the member from Nipissie has been sharing would see absolutely no job retention, no considerations about the socio-economic thing, considering for the future of the thing. And this is quite frankly an alarmist depiction that doesn't in any way reflect the approach that we are taking towards the Ontario Northern Transportation Commission. We recognize that the status quo is not going to work. We have a minister's advisory committee that's been set up to work to make those decisions. Thank you, supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. Let me tell you what is alarming. And what's alarming is that the Treasury told your government to defer the fire sale announcement and wait for, quote, further due diligence and analysis of fiscal implications. Speaker, those new numbers did come, and yes, they are alarming, Speaker. I'll give him that. Instead of the $25 million that the Liberals listed for severance, it's now listed at $250 million. And I say to you right here and now, that's still low by half. Also, Speaker, they had absolutely no retirement benefits listed. They were not going to pay any benefits to any retirees. I stood and fought for those retirees, and now it's listed in the new documents as $56 million. Speaker, they showed pensions at only $100 million when it's $200 million. In fact, it's $212 million. Do I need to go on and show how, why I'm so alarmed at the $790 million? When are you going to figure it out? Thank you. Senator, please. Minister? What the member is talking about is an assessment of all the associated liabilities, and we absolutely shut the system down, something that was never the approach that we were going to take, certainly one that we're very, very keen to make sure that we find a way to work our way through the challenges of the Ontario North End Transportation Commission. We are committed to a sustainable, efficient system, and we think there's some great opportunities for the ONTC. But again, the picture that the member from the embassy has brought forward is having a remotely accurate representative of the approach we are taking, and certainly not the approach we are taking now. We are working through a ministerial advisory committee, and again, I've asked the member on a number of occasions to work with us to provide a cooperative approach. This approach is one that is not helpful to the ONTC employees, not helpful to the municipalities, and so much that I say on behalf of the ministerial advisory committee, I say on behalf of Mayor Albert Donald of North Bay, and Mayor Spatch of the President, Phenomenon others, work with us to come up with a positive way. Thank you. New question. Member from Kitchener, Waterloo. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. The government now has a decision that makes it clear that Ellis Dawn, the Ellis Dawn bill, is not an urgent matter. Even for the well-connected company that asked for it, whatever excuse the Premier had for rushing the bill ahead is falling apart. Will she clear things up today and stop pressing ahead with moves to ram it through? Government House Leader. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, let's review what's happening again. The member for Lampton, Kent Middlesex has put forward a private members bill. It has been debated here in the legislature. It is part of a larger programming motion, the same type of motion that the members party pushed for for the financial accountability officers legislation. There will be an opportunity if this programming motion passes for the bill to go to committee where the issues that she has raised and her colleagues raised can be discussed, where there can be witnesses, where there can be amendments and ultimately, Mr. Speaker, a vote on all aspects of the bill. Then it will come back here where there will be more discussion and votes. Mr. Speaker, this is a private members bill and it will be looked at thoroughly by the committee. Answer. Thank you. Supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government can't have it both ways. If this bill isn't an urgent matter, if it's before the courts, why won't she clear things up today and make it clear that she won't proceed with this undemocratic legislation? Mr. Speaker, the honourable member can't have it both ways. All of a sudden programming motions are horrible unless the NDP proposes the programming motion. Mr. Speaker, we have put together a set of eight bills in which there is some consensus within the legislature. One of them is a private members bill for the member from Lampton, Kent, and the other one is a special bill for the member from Lampton. There are other bills, too, Mr. Speaker, as well as the formation of a special committee to look at developmental services. You can't have the debate going on between the members that are asking the question and the members that are answering. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important to stress all this programming motion does is allow for further debate and discussion on issues that the honourable member or any honourable member in this legislature has can be raised if and when it goes before committee. Thank you. New question? The member for Scarborough Agent Court. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Our government has made priority to invest in youth throughout the province, Mr. Speaker. In my writing of Scarborough Agent Court, there are many creative and talented youth who would like to make a difference in community. Mr. Speaker, the Minister recently announced an exciting partnership with Mars. This is to create a studio-wide Ontario Social Impact and Leadership Academy. Mr. Speaker, through you to the Minister, can she please inform the House this partnership gives the youth opportunity to make a positive impact in the community, but also how does this program work, Mr. Speaker? Thank you. Thank you. Next question, and I'm pleased to be able to stand to speak a bit about Studio Y, which we just announced last week. I agree with the member that there are many youth, not just in her writing, but all across the province that are talented, well-educated with a strong desire to make a positive impact in their communities. Our government wants to identify and refine that talent to this so their great ideas can become reality. I'm proud to say that we are supporting Mars with launching Studio Y on Ontario's Impact and Leadership Activity, designed to educate young leaders on social innovation and really help them grow their great ideas. Every year, 25 youth aged 18 to 29 from across the province, not just from Toronto, but across the province, will be selected from Mars to take part in this nine-month program. They'll receive intensive training and mentoring. Mr. Speaker, this really is an investment in our future and in our future. Mr. Speaker, you've got the supplementary. We are supporting social innovation throughout this province. Ontario youth are recognized as some of the best educated in the world, Mr. Speaker. And today, our page, Daniel, goes to Kennedy Public School, my variety of Scarborough Asian courts recognized as the number one elementary school in the system, Mr. Speaker. And that's another great thing I wanted to promote. They are talented, global minded and passionate about making a difference, Mr. Speaker. Investing in leadership skills will help these young people become social entrepreneur, change agent and civic leaders of tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. Creating a highly skilled workforce is important to every Ontarian in this competing era of globalization. I'm pleased to see that we are partnering with Mars as they have proven track records of driving social innovations and economic prosperity. Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister, is how is the studio-wide strength of Ontario's social innovation culture? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Speaker, and I agree. We do have a fantastic education system here, and again, talent and creativity across the province. The curriculum in studio-wide will help build on that education and that strength to help youth turn their business ideas into reality. There's three essential components to this intensive nine month program. The first three months, youth will learn about governance, business planning, negotiated and communication skills. The next four months will help them use those skills in real life situations working with enterprises or other organizations in their communities. Then there'll be a team project in the last two months. It's certainly an exciting initiative and one that I wish was around when I was younger. Applications for studio-wide, just so everyone knows, open tomorrow online at studio.marvpd.com. The first group of young people will begin in January, and I can't wait to see the creativity and the environment that's created through this project. Thank you. Any questions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transportation. Minister, as you're well aware, there is an ongoing study on the 401 expansion going through the region of Durham. The difficulty that it has caused is shut down all development in the area until such time as the study is completed. Now, the problem is complicated in such that Minister, your senior ministerial individuals have come to the City Council and explained to the City Council that there'll be no expansion until the year 2030 or 2031 through the area. The difficulty is that I have developers in the area who are waiting to build and have permits waiting to go until they get the OK from the Ministry of Transportation. Minister, what's happening with these permits and the expansion in the area? Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just first to give some context to this, we not only have one of the biggest transit builds out, we're spending more on highway expansion ever before. Our annual highway budget, Mr. Speaker, now is an unprecedented $2.6 billion. I also want to compliment the federal government. You know I've been critical of them when they're not a partner. In 2007 the federal government has been a good partner on that project and we're trying to advance that project. I realize that the highway and transportation right-of-ways do cause problems for development. I'm not particularly familiar with the details. I accept that there's some validity to the concern you're raising. I will happily meet with you and with the municipalities to try and resolve it and I greatly appreciate introducing the issue. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I move unanimous consent that the provisions of Government Order No. 8 relating to Bill 74 be deleted. The third party is seeking unanimous consent to delete a portion of the programming motion. Do we agree? I heard a no. Point of order from the member from Mississauga Streetsville. I'm pleased to introduce in the West Visitors Gallery Bernard Jordan and his wife who are from Meadowvale. He's the president of Meadowvale Senior Citizens' Club and he's here for Senior Citizens' Day. Welcome to Queen's Park. Mr. Speaker, responsible for seniors on a point of order. Speaker, in the audience we also have a constituent from New York West Omalola Are. Welcome. No further votes, there is no further deferred votes so this House stands adjourned until 1pm this afternoon.