 It is now time for oral questions. A member for Toronto, Dan, for us. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, my question to the acting Premier, does the Premier's government accept the independent FAO report that cancelling cap and trade will cost more than $3 billion over the next four years? Minister of Finance, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Mr. Speaker, and through you, I thank the member from Davenport for the question. Yes, because when we say costs $3 billion, that's $3 billion back in the pockets of Ontario taxpayer. Mr. Speaker, the FAO report, and I appreciate the chance to speak to it, on page 10 confirms that the elimination of cap and trade will save taxpayers $1.3 billion this year alone, and confirms $264 per year per family. Mr. Speaker, also on page 12. The report confirms our $5 million in terms of a compensation framework. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, to the member, we are putting money back in the pockets of taxpayers. That is going to be over $3 billion at the end of the day. Thank you. The FAO reports that $3 billion could be only the beginning. Although the Premier made it illegal for anyone to sue the government in Ontario, which is a pretty extraordinary step right there, they could still face lawsuits from other countries. How much does the government expect to pay for international lawsuits? Mr. Speaker, through you to the member, as I mentioned, the FAO identified that the compensation framework, which is the basis for the lawsuits that the member is speaking of, has in fact been confirmed at $5 million. Now, you'll recall during the election, there was a lot of hyperbole, a lot of talk about $3 billion, $4 billion. In fact, the detailed analysis, which we thank him for, points out that $5 million is the expected compensation. That's the amount that we put forward. We committed to the orderly wind-down of this program that was killing jobs, that was regressive, and we will follow that through. It's a promise we made. It's a promise we'll keep. I'm sure he read a different report. Again, back to the Minister. People are learning that the Premier's snap decision to cancel cap-and-trade will cost Ontario families and businesses $3 billion. Did the Premier's office do any due diligence, do any assessment of these costs, or figure out what their ideological plan would actually cost the people of Ontario before they end at the cap-and-trade market? Mr. Speaker, and I would recommend that everyone, particularly in this legislature, read the report. The mistake that sometimes the members' opposite make is thinking that money for government grows on trees. Money for government comes from people. When we made a commitment about affordability to the people of Ontario, we made it knowing that that meant that we were going to reduce revenues for government. We were reducing revenues for a program that wasn't working, a regressive job-killing tax. $264 per family is confirmed in this report today. Yes, that means less money for government. That's more money for families. We'll talk about that later. Next question. Member for Toronto, Danforth. Thank you, Speaker. And again to the acting Premier. During the election campaign, the Premier promised that his ideological plan would not cost anything. Now we see that it will add billions to the debt without changing costs to households. Will the minister now admit that the Premier was wrong? Deputy Premier. Minister of the environment. This is only awkward because it's getting ahead of our lob questions. Mr Speaker, again, and we'll talk about this all day in this legislature. When the NDP talks about government money, they don't seem to appreciate that that's people's money. That's taxpayers' money. That's money for businesses. When we understand that that money comes out of the pockets of hardworking taxpayers, when people are making choices between heating and eating, we will focus on the fact that those people need that money, that they can spend that money better than the government. We're happy to talk about it all day. Three billion dollars back in people's pockets. And this is a government that will keep its promises. We said that we would cut this tax. We cut this tax. Speaker, the financial accountability officer was clear today. The government will add three billion dollars to the debt, scrapping programs and paying expensive lawyers. The families will be paying an even higher carbon price. And Ontario has no climate plan. Only this government could spend three billion dollars to not have a plan. Does the acting Premier think that's something to be proud of? Mr. Speaker, $264 may not be a lot of money to the NDP. That's $264 that goes back into the pockets. Now, we've talked about the federal carbon plan. I'd love to go into detail about that. Another party talked about a higher carbon tax, even than Trudeau. But our party understands that money best spent is in people's pockets. We will bring forward a plan, a made in Ontario plan, a plan that deals with the real issues, that balances the economy and the environment, and that doesn't punish Ontario families. Why does the NDP want to punish Ontario families? Thank you, Speaker. Here's what the financial accountability officer found. There will be no savings for households. There will be $3 billion added to the debt, and the province has no plan to deal with climate change. At a time when we need leadership, the government has delivered a $3 billion mess. When are they going to admit that they were wrong? Mr. Speaker, I wish if the member was going to quote the FAO, he would quote the page number. So let me do that. On page 10, the elimination of cap and trade will save $1.3 billion this year alone. A typical household will save $264. He further confirms, and this has been a question in this House, on page 13, the money collected for cap and trade will be spent on programs to meet the purpose of the Act to fight climate change. Mr. Speaker, we've been clear, Mr. Speaker. We will wind this program down in a responsible way. We will bring forward a made in Ontario plan that balances the economy and the environment. We made this promise. We intend to keep it. Next question, the member for Nickel Belt. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the vice-premier. One of the communities that tragically has become a symbol of hallway medicine is Brampton, Ontario. Brampton is the fastest growing community in our province, one of, but its one and lonely full-service hospital is struggling to keep up with demand. Last year, 4,352 patients, some of the sickest, were treated in hallways. Yesterday, they were in cold gridlock, yet again. Does the acting Premier think the community of Brampton deserve a new hospital? Mr. Tourism, Mr. Tourism, Culture and Sport. Thank you. Brampton is, frankly, the example of why our Premier during the election and our Deputy Premier and Minister of Health have been working so hard to end health care medicine in the province of Ontario. We made that commitment, Speaker, because we understand that Peel Region and Ottawa and Toronto and Hamilton and London and Thunder Bay and Canara all have issues. We made a commitment to do that. There is no one more qualified to lead that study and to lead that change than the Minister of Health. And we are very confident that as we move forward, we've already started making announcements. We made an announcement on the surge funding last week. The people of Ontario sent a very clear message, which is exactly why we have nine MPPs from the PC Party representing the Peel Region. Thank you, Speaker. The people of Brampton deserve better than an underfunded hospital that leaves them treated in hallways. The Premier made it clear his plan is for cut, and we know where that leads. It leads to closed hospital, less nurses, more hallway medicine. What it really means, Speaker, is it means more patient losing their dignity, losing their privacy as they try to use a commode with five other people in the TV room with them. It shouldn't have to be that way, Speaker. It should not be that way. Well, the acting Premier urges caucus to stand with the new Democrats today and commit to funding a new hospital in Brampton in the upcoming budget. Minister. I couldn't agree more. No one, no one understands more why we need to solve the crisis in health care. I understand that. The Minister of Health understands that. The Premier understands that, which is exactly why we made the announcement last week. We are already moving forward on our announcements. We are already putting new money in place for the surge funding to prepare for the flu season. We've already announced long-term care beds. Many of us understand and appreciate the part of the challenge with the alternative level of care beds is because we don't have the space in long-term care. We are making those commitments. We have started to make those commitments, and I'm proud of the Minister of Health of Health's work on this file. Here, here. Question. The Member for Durham. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Parks. And I know he's a popular guy this morning. And rightly so. Voters soundly rejected the Liberals cap in trade program in the last election. And it is time for it to come to an end. Let me be clear. I care deeply about the environment, and I know that our Minister is working hard on a Made in Ontario climate change plan. But our government made a promise to the people of Ontario, and, Speaker, we plan to keep it. Here, here. As others have referred to this morning, Peter Weltman, the financial accountability officer for Ontario, completed a financial review of the cancellation of the cap in trade program. And that review was released this morning. Can the Minister of the Environment share some of the highlights of this review with us? Mr. the Environment, Conservation, and Parks. Thank you for the member from Durham for that question. And I should again thank the financial accountability officer and his staff for the hard work. Financial accountability is something that we need to return to the government, and his work is much appreciated. As mentioned, there are some number of highlights about the cancellation. He did confirm, and I've now memorized it, that page 10, the elimination of the cap in trade program will save $1.3 billion. Page 3, the typical family, will save $264. A number this legislature has heard before. Very importantly on page 12, we talked about a compensation framework that $5 million will be the likely cost to the government of canceling that program. And on page 13, that the money collected for fighting climate change will be used for the purpose it was collected for. We've been clear, Mr. Speaker, we are going to cancel this regressive job killing program and tax, and we were going to replace it with a made in Ontario solution. Thank you, supplementary. Speaker, thank you to the Minister for that answer. That's eye-opening information. It seems the voters of Ontario were right. It's great to see that the estimates spoken to in this house by the Minister have been confirmed to be accurate by the FAO. I can assure you my constituents in Durham will be pleased to hear that savings are on the way. But, Speaker, January 1st is fast approaching. This date is a significant one, as it's the day the federal government claims that they will impose their own carbon tax on our province. This is not what Ontario voted for. This is not what the people of Durham voted for. Can the Minister explain to this House what our intentions are as a government to prevent this from happening? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The member raises an excellent point. In fact, on page 3 of the FAO's report, we find the answer to a question that many Canadians have been asking. How much will the Trudeau carbon tax cost families? This is a question they've not been willing to answer, but we have an answer today. The FAO reveals that the Trudeau carbon tax will cost $648 per family. That's every year, year after year, once it's fully implemented. Mr. Speaker, that's the equivalent of four hydro bills for an average Ontario family. Families cannot afford $648 per family. That's why Premier Ford and his government have promised to do everything possible to fight this carbon tax, to stop the imposition of this regressive job-killing tax. We've been clear to the federal government. We believe and understand that climate change is important. We will bring forward an Ontario solution. We will not punish Ontario families for that solution. Next question, the member for Essex. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Speaker, for a long time now families in Chatham Kent have been dealing with black water coming up from their wells. Water on family farms that surround the Samsung North Kent 1 wind turbine site became black and undrinkable when Samsung began construction of their turbines. The former Liberal government said that the water was safe and that these families were overreacting. Now the current PC government is acting with the same indifference that the Liberals did. Sorry to interrupt the member. Government benches have to come to order. Member, can I ask this question? Speaker, as we can see the PC government is acting with the same indifference that the former Liberal government worked with. Speaker, I've seen firsthand what this water looks like and scientists have confirmed that it contains black-shell sediments that are known carcinogen. Why is this PC government taking the same approach as the old Liberal government and refusing to initiate a health hazard investigation? Where is the health hazard investigation that the Premier promised the people of Chatham Kent? Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Minister of Infrastructure. Minister of Infrastructure. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to welcome on behalf of the Government of Ontario, the people from Chatham Kent who are here today, from the organization Waterwells First, who have been actively fighting the expansion of industrial wind turbines in the province of Ontario. Water from the Wells because of the expansion of wind turbines. Mr. Speaker, our Premier, Doug Ford, myself and the Ontario and the entire PC government are committed to getting to the bottom of this issue. We made a promise in the election and prior to the election to stand with these families. And Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to say that already that work has begun. The minister of health has directed Ontario's chief medical officer to begin reviewing data and pass collections and begin getting answers for the impacted families in Chatham Kent. We look forward to having more to say on the matter in the weeks ahead. Supplementary. We start the clock. Supplementary. Families are not just worried about the quality of the water in their wells for their own sake. They're afraid to report these sediments in their well water for fear of loss of their property value due to environmental stigma. Speaker, I'll ask again. What immediate action has this government undertaken to determine the full nature and the extent of contamination from sediments released in this region's watershed? Great one, Sal. We'll come to order. I have to be able to hear the question. I put the question again. Well, thank you very much, Speaker. The question is simply one of the immediate actions that this government is undertaking to ensure that these people have clean drinking water. Your government seems to work with a matter of speed when it comes to cheap beer, but you can't give these people clean drinking water. Minister of Infrastructure. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Look, I outline clearly that the Ministry of Health has directed the Ontario Chief Medical Officer to begin reviewing this data to get answers for these families. Mr. Speaker, our government moved quickly and decisively on a number of issues, including introducing legislation to scrap the Green Energy Act in the province of Intero, Mr. Speaker. A piece of legislation that the member opposite and his party supported, Mr. Speaker, as well as every day at Queen's Park currently, they're criticizing us for scrapping the Green Energy Act, Mr. Speaker. Secondly, the Minister of Energy moved quickly and decisively to cancel 758 wasteful and unnecessary energy projects in Ontario. And Mr. Speaker, one of the most canceled projects is the Otter Creek Wind Farm, which is planned for the same area as the North Kent Wind Farm in Kent County. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to say promises made. Minister of Transportation, come to order. Minister of Municipal Affairs, come to order. Minister of Transportation. Start the clock. Next question, the member for Milton. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. During the last election, I heard a lot about auto insurance rates while knocking on doors and since in my great riding of Milton. I heard from countless people in my riding that insurance rates are simply too high. Insurance rates are unfair and discriminatory. People are demanding change to the auto insurance system. I know our government is committed to building an auto insurance system that puts the needs of drivers first. However, it's unfortunate the Liberals have dragged their feet and could not provide relief on this file for the last 15 long years. Could the Minister please explain how the auto insurance system has reached this breaking point? Minister of Finance. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the member for Milton for the question. For 15 years, drivers in Ontario suffered under the Liberal government. Every aspect of life became more unaffordable, including auto insurance. And what's worse is that the Liberals knew people needed relief and did nothing about it. Rather than propose real solutions to issues in the auto insurance system, the Liberals promised unrealistic stretch goals and the NDP supported them every single step of the way. The remaining Liberal members would do well to learn from the member from Milton. His thoughtful approach to rate discrimination has resulted in legislation that, if passed, will bring real fairness to the system. I'd like to once again congratulate the member from Milton on his important work on this file, Speaker. Do you need supplementary? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister for his response. It's disappointing the NDP supported Liberal inaction on this file for so many years. Drivers had to deal with under... ...discriminatory insurance rates for far too long. And the only help they received was Liberal NDP stretch goals. But now the NDP seem to have changing their mind. They say they want to help drivers. Just minutes after I announced my private members bill yesterday, the member from Brampton East rushed into the media studio to announce his own plan to end the discrimination. Perfect timing, Mr. Speaker. As the only member to put legislation forward on this matter, could the Minister please explain to me the importance of acting on affordable insurance rates for all Ontarians? Thank you, Mr. Finance. Thank you, Speaker. Well, the member from Brampton East hasn't tabled any legislation yet, so we don't fully know the details of his plan, but I will try my best, Speaker. The member from Brampton East wants the GTA to be considered a single geographic area when insurance companies set their rates. However, this will serve only to increase insurance costs across the entire GTA. In fact, the member's plan would cause rates to rise in many of his own caucus colleagues' writings. On the other hand, the member from Milton got it right, Speaker. He took the time to consult, to listen, and to develop a plan that will deliver real fairness to the system if past drivers all across Ontario will benefit from the thoughtful plan the member from Milton put forward. Start the clock. Next question, the member from Waterloo. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. Today, we are joined by early childhood educators from across Ontario. They are hardworking professionals who educate and care for some of the most important people in our province, our children. These professionals play a vital role in the early years of young children across the province. They also contribute to the economy by ensuring that parents can participate in the workforce or finish school. Today is Early Childhood Educator's Appreciation Day. They get a day. Minister, to say that ECEs across the province are undervalued, underpaid, would be an understatement. Is this government still committed to increasing wages for early childhood educators as you promised to do? Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to rise today and welcome our early educators that are here today in Parliament. This is your kind of arts and this is the responsibility for ensuring that you have a good working environment absolutely rests squarely on the shoulders of this PC government under the leadership of Premier Ford. We feel very strongly that we have to take every step possible to ensure the classroom environment is the best it can be for our people on the front lines. We have met with amazing ECEs across not only my riding but the province and we know the valuable work that they bring and we look forward to working with in the weeks and months to come with them to ensure that the value they bring to the environment in their art schools is respected and valued. Thank you very much. Supplementary? Thank you very much. Well, I didn't hear a promise I didn't hear a promise that you actually are going to appreciate ECEs by actually paying them what they deserve. Profit care means that the focus is on children not multinational profit margins. Any investment in early learning and care should ensure that public money goes to affordable, high quality care where children can learn and grow to ensure also that ECEs have the resources to provide the education and the care that they're trained to do because they are professionals in this province. Is the government interested, interested at all in high quality, accountable, affordable public services or just patting the profit margins of multinational big box state care corporations as you have indicated in the past and even today by not answering this question. Minister? The easy answer to this question is yes but I think there's a little bit of concern that's coming, I'm feeling a little bit of concern coming from the focus of the question from the member opposite in the NDP party. There's a lot of rhetoric there and I know a lot of ECEs that work in private daycare facilities that are doing an amazing job and that's in addition to the facilities that we have in our public institutions as well and we need to be celebrating them all and that's what we're doing today. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next question. Member for Ottawa, Vangie. Mr. Please. Thank you Mr. Speaker. It's also for the minister of environment for parks. Representative from the Wild Lands League an organization committed to biodiversity. Ontario has tremendous rich natural heritage it no longer has a climate change plan but it should do something and this government should do something for the environment. We're blessed with a bounty of fresh water, forests, the wetlands but we need to do more. Can the minister commit today to meeting the national target of protecting 17% of our national heritage by 2020 as recommended by the National Advisory Panel report this year? Minister of the Environment, conservation and parks. Mr. Speaker, through you. Thank you to the member for their question. We are a government committed to making sure that our air, our land, our water is clean and of course within parks that Ontarians 10 million last year and hopefully more in the future can enjoy Ontario parks. So I'd be pleased to meet a group that you referenced. I'd be pleased to speak to them about their objectives. Certainly our objectives are to increase accessibility for Ontarians to our parks and wild spaces while doing that in an ecologically sensitive fashion. So I'd be pleased to meet with them. Thank you. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker, in my meeting this morning the Wild Lands League provided me a blueprint of how we can meet this 17% protection target with working with Indigenous community. As Libos, we had been holding the government, we want to hold the government accountable to that particular objective. The evidence is in. There are specific projects such as the Nord French River an immense natural wetland which can help us achieve this target. So I'm asking the government would it commit to working with the Muscree First Nation to protect the Nord French River and commit that to date? Mr. Speaker, through you the member as I said we'd be happy to sit and meet to understand the objectives. This is a government that is committed in terms of our wild spaces, in terms of our parks both the operating parks and the non-operating parks. As the member would know of course there's the sensitivities we must manage with First Nations and others in terms of the expansions of protected areas but there is a proud PC history of locations of things like the Oak Ridge's Moraine and other important landmarks from a park's perspective including our very first parks in this province so I'd be pleased to meet with the group mentioned, thank you. Next question, the member for Oakville. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Attorney General in less than 24 hours the Federal Liberal Government's decision to legalize cannabis in Ontario and across Canada takes effect and many families in my writing know what will be done to keep it out of the hands of their children. They're looking for assurance that the health, well-being and safety of their children is a top priority. Most importantly they want to know what policies will be in place to protect their children. I know this government is working hard to protect our young people and I'm hoping the Attorney General can share with the people of Oakville in all Ontarians what efforts the government is doing to keep our children safe. Thank you Mr. Speaker and the member from Oakville for the question. I'd like to assure the people of Oakville and all across the province that Ontario will be ready on October 17th tomorrow and we will be putting forward an approach that puts the safety of children first. I'd like to tell you about some of the safeguards that we will have in place to protect our children. Ontarians will have to be 19 years or older to buy, use, possess or grow cannabis. Consumers who purchase cannabis through the online Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation will be required to confirm that they are 19 years of age or older before entering the website. Purchases that will be delivered to consumers' homes and Canada Post will have the ability to check ID to verify the age of the recipient. Packages will not be left at the door. In stores products cannot be visible or sold to youth and must be sold from behind the counter. Promotions must be limited to factual information to youth. While this is a policy that is put forward by the federal-liberal government, I can assure that our government is doing everything it can to keep recreational cannabis out of the hands of children. Thank you Mr. Speaker and I appreciate the Attorney General providing that information. As a father myself, I know parents in my writing will also feel relieved to know that our government takes the safety of their children seriously. I also know that by establishing a trust between the health risks of cannabis used for young people and the need to eliminate the illegal market for cannabis this is also a serious matter of concern to many people in the writing of Oakville and are concerned about the illegal use and I'm hoping the Attorney General can provide some information on what is being done to combat the illegal market. Attorney General. Mr. Speaker I'd like to thank the member for that important question. On October 17th the only legal retailer of recreational cannabis in Ontario is the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation through its online platform. Anyone found at the time to be selling or allowing their property to be used for the distribution of cannabis can face fines of up to one million dollars and or up to two years in jail. I have introduced legislation which if passed clarified that while participation in the illegal market before October 17th will not necessarily preclude someone from potentially participating in the retail market continuing to do so after October 17th will. Mr. Speaker our message cannot be more clear anyone currently participating in the illegal market should stop now. Thank you. Question for London Fanshawe. My question to the Deputy Premier Christine and Marcel Turgeon are constituents of mine in London Fanshawe they went through enormous hardship because of the overcrowding crisis in our hospitals and long-term care facilities. Marcel suffers from dementia and recently had a heart attack falling the treatment he was involuntarily placed into a long-term care home hours away from his wife causing him to lose his priority status at London long-term care facilities. The reason the hospital gave for doing this was they needed the bed. Will the Minister stop the cuts and provide our healthcare facilities with the funding they need? Acting Premier Mr. Tourism Mr. Tourism called transport. Thank you Again I will say to the member opposite your example very eloquently highlights why we need change in the system and to be clear in the healthcare system we have the most engaged and excellent front-care workers in our healthcare system in our long-term care facilities so to suggest that there are cuts to that system I think is really really inappropriate on the member's side. We talk about why healthcare is such an issue in the province of Ontario. We talk about why we've made commitments for long-term care beds we've already talked about commitments that we've made on the board. We're doing this work and I wish that the member opposite would be part of the solution instead of constantly highlighting the issues that frankly show why we need to make these changes. The member is incorrect I had been part of the solution many many times about suggesting things of how long-term care can be improved and our part of the NDP has been a part of the solution and I think that healthcare can be beneficial to everyone in Ontario by being public and having the infusion it needs to continually provide the care for Ontarians. Speaker cuts to healthcare have torn apart this couple. Christine doesn't drive and must depend on the kindness of her friends and neighbors to drive her two hours out of town to visit her husband and between them has put incredible stress on Marcel who has experienced that stress being separated from his wife and now his foot is also being amputated the chronic underfunding of our healthcare system hurts seniors and families seniors like Marcel are being pushed out of hospital beds because of overcrowding and funding cuts will the government do the right thing and make a serious commitment to hospital funding so that families can receive the care they need Minister Thank you I think you and I can agree on one thing and that's that the system is not properly caring for our seniors who need the assistance where they live and where their families are we made an announcement last week as you know in the city of London there is an announcement that has already been made about new long-term care beds we need to do better but we've made that commitment all I'm asking for is that you work with us and make sure that we provide the system and the opportunity for your constituents and all of your system there is a reason why Dr. Reuben Devlin has been tasked with this very important work we understand their systemic problems we understand that there needs to be system wide changes we cannot hive off city against city municipality against municipality we need to make sure that the entire system is working and that's what our Minister of Health is doing Thank you next question the member for Brampton South Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the Minister of Finance the previous Liberal government strung along the people of Ontario for years broken promises stretch goals and nothing to show for it life in Ontario became more every step of the way people in Ontario deserve a change people in my riding have suffered from rate discrimination in the auto insurance system for years and deserve better than NDP members who have enabled failed Liberal auto insurance policies the previous government did nothing to help them could the Minister please explain what action is being proposed to address fairness in Ontario's auto insurance system Minister of Finance Thank you Speaker and thank you to the member from Brampton South for the question well yesterday we saw exactly what is being proposed to help address fairness in our auto insurance system the member from Milton introduced his ending discrimination in automobile insurance act 2018 I would like to congratulate again the Minister for his important work on this file he got this right his proposed legislation is a great way to combat rate discrimination in our auto insurance system there are nearly 10 million drivers in Ontario who expect us to do everything we can to ensure the auto insurance system is working for them this is an excellent step forward in building an auto insurance system that serves the needs of people congratulations once again to the member from Milton Thank you Mr. Speaker thank you to the Minister for his response it is very exciting to see our caucus taking direct action to support drivers in Ontario there is no doubt that this legislation brought forward by the member from Milton if passed will bring more fairness to the auto insurance system I am very happy with the proposed action to combat rate discrimination we finally have a government that listens to the needs of the people and takes action the Liberals let drivers suffer for too long and for too long the NDP supported their broken promises while the opposition sits idle the minister is taking action to end more on drivers could the minister please update the House on what is being done to address other aspects of the auto insurance system Thank you it is clear that the liberal NDP system of failed stretch goals on auto insurance is broken it is yet another liberal promise that never came to fruition and sadly the NDP reported them every single step of the way to clean up this mess our government is looking at the regulatory environment surrounding auto insurance in Ontario we want to work with industry stakeholders to ensure Ontario has an auto insurance system that serves the needs of the people we are committed to ensuring fairness in rate setting we are committed to ensuring rate practices and speaker we are committed to building a system that puts the drivers first this keeps going we'll never have lunch start the clock next question the member for London West thank you speaker my question is to the acting premier speaker London's hallway medicine crisis is being ignored by this conservative government the crisis is so serious that earlier this year London Health Sciences Centre is forced to implement a hallway transfer protocol to deal with the daily year round reality of patients lined up for treatment in the hospital hallway with winter coming there will be more people going to hospital for cold weather related illnesses and more patients competing for already limited beds speaker will this government commit today to adding permanent beds to London Health Sciences centre to help end hallway medicine in my community acting premier minister of tourism minister of tourism culture and sport thank you for that question and thank you for allowing us to highlight our government's recent announcement healthcare system needs assistance that's why the premier has appointed Dr Ruben Devlin that's why we had the most capable and talented deputy minister and premier minister of health on this file we understand there are systemic problems but we also are taking action as I said 6,000 new long term care beds were announced last week surge funding for hospitals in need, in preparation in preparation for the flu season were announced we're taking action where are you yes supplementary speaker systemic problems require more than mandate one time solutions the flu season is already upon us this government's flu surge funding won't come close to alleviating the pressures in our healthcare system and with none of the funding currently allocated to new beds at London Health Sciences centre it won't do anything at all for my community of London speaker again to the acting premier will this government commit today to adding not only flu surge beds to LHSC but permanent beds as well or are conservatives completely indifferent to the healthcare needs of Londoners minister NDP continues to play political games with our healthcare system I am proud of our government's action on this file I think that we need to move beyond the rhetoric and actually move to action which again I will reinforce 6000 new long term care beds have been announced with us instead of fighting them thank you very much next question the member for mississauga centre our government was elected with a mandate to create and protect jobs unfortunately the last 15 years under the liberals have been devastating for the small business community they have been hit with high taxes increased employer costs and suffocating red tape making Ontario uncompetitive our number one priority is ensuring that Ontario is open for business our government has been holding a series of roundtables across Ontario to hear directly from those who create jobs on how we can help them thrive last week the minister held a series of roundtables to hear directly from business owners can the minister inform us on what she learned from the local job creators during those roundtables Mr. Speaker I'd like to thank my colleague the member for mississauga centre for her question Franco Ontarians are proud Ontarians whose history and culture are integral parts of our province they are also important and significant contributors to Ontario's economy last week the member from Prescott Russell my parliamentary assistant and I heard directly from francophone entrepreneurs small and medium-sized business owners and representatives from non-profit organizations in capes casing in North Bay in Sudbury and in Edinburgh at each roundtable Mr. Speaker we heard from job creators who are suffering from over regulation and the anti-business culture that the liberals allowed to build up across government and many of them offered constructive solutions to the issues and problems that they are experiencing we heard that they are now looking forward to a government that finally cares about creating the conditions for them to succeed we will continue to engage our Franco Ontarian business owners to listen to them and to help them build a more prosperous Ontario Mr. Speaker through you I would like to thank the honourable minister for her response we know how important the prosperity of francophone business owners is for the minister and we heard from them directly what our government can do to help them can the minister inform this house on the next steps regarding her consultations with francophone business owners thank you Mr. Speaker these roundtables are opportunities to discuss job creation with francophone business owners in order to learn more about the challenges and possibilities within their communities Ontario has an enormous potential and this is an unused potential and by meeting our business owners we will be able to develop strategies necessary to use our bilingual workforce our communities will be more prosperous when we reduce red tape which is weighing currently on our businesses our businesses that create jobs that allow people to start and grow their business as well to increase investments in Ontario specifically by reducing red tape I'm happy to inform this house that we will continue these consultations I can tell you that right now we're planning on visiting other communities including Hamilton Welland and London thank you Mr. Speaker next question the member for Windsor to come see my question is to the minister of finance Good morning minister Speaker the doors at Coarther Downs are closed this morning they'll likely stay closed for the rest of the month at least employees and their union want to know why because the minister has said the slot play at Coarther Downs has been saved Speaker what does the minister have to say to these employees today Minister of Finance Thank you and good morning our member from Windsor to come our government has kept its commitment to bolster the horse racing industry and repair the damage done by the previous liberal government one that you supported so the member is speaking about the temporary closure at Coarther Downs in order to reconfigure the slots in order to keep our commitment and honour the agreement in principle now Coarther Downs has been advised that no employee has been or will be laid off as a result of this very brief closure OLG is working with Coarther Downs to mitigate the impact of the temporary closure of the shoreline slots at Coarther Downs and what it has on its employees but we look forward to the relaunch of shoreline slots at Coarther Downs in approximately two weeks time and we thank the community for their patience this is an example speaker of a promise made and a promise kept supplementary well speaker the minister the minister used to be critical of the casino operator Great Canadian Gaming he said in this house that their deal with the Liberals for casino contracts didn't pass the smell test he suggested the Liberals were sweeping their business contracts under the rug because they were so bad speaker the government has cancelled green energy contracts are they planning on getting rid of the Great Canadian Gaming contracts as well minister thank you speaker I would like to say that agreements in principle have now been reached to keep slots operating at Coarther Downs and Ajax Downs and to provide additional funding to continue horse racing in Fort Erie and Dresden as they both made a decision for additional horse racing support but I will say thank you to the member from Haliburton Coarther Lakes Brock and you'll hear why in a moment speaker on October 8th the Peterborough examiner quoted Cabin Monaghan Mayor Scott McFadden's response to the news that slots would remain at Coarther Downs he said quote it's absolutely incredible news he said it's fantastic the jobs have been saved by the member from the next question the member from Mississauga East Cooksville thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of infrastructure after 15 long years the outcomes of healthcare in Ontario lagged near the bottom among industrialized countries while costs are in the top third while the Liberals were more concerned with bureaucratic systems that benefited well connected insiders our patients suffered overcrowding and long wait lists defined the liberal record on healthcare the Liberals openly attacked our doctors laid off our nurses cut residency positions disregarded our paramedics and other frontline professionals they let our hospitals and healthcare infrastructure crumble without providing much need support to fix the problem what new initiatives is our government for the people taking to help and the scandal-ridden liberal record on hallway healthcare minister of infrastructure thank you very much Mr. Speaker I'd like to thank the member for that question Mr. Speaker for far too long we have seen a government that refused to act when it came to crumbling buildings crowded rooms and patients in hallways I'm pleased to share that the dark days of hallway healthcare are now behind us last Thursday Mr. Speaker I was honored to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the West Park Healthcare Center West Park is a new $1.2 billion rehab hospital complex being built through a public-private partnership our government will stand up for the people of this province making important healthcare investments in reliable infrastructure like the new West Park Healthcare Center and Mr. Speaker that's because infrastructure is for the people it's the rinks we skate in it's the schools we learn in hospitals our babies are born in it's at networks we communicate over and it's the roads that bring us back home supplementary minister that is great news and this announcement shows that the people of this great province finally have a government who gets it and who is on their side when it comes to healthcare the commitment of $1.2 billion at the West Park Healthcare Center represents a significant investment into the community of York and Humber River promises made it builds upon our call to action of finally addressing the hallway healthcare crisis in this province minister can you provide this legislator with further information about this project and what new innovative features West Park will include thank you minister this new hospital will be a 314 bed six-story facility for patients recovering from serious illness this represents an increase of 54 more deaths than the previous hospital in that region the new hospital will serve double the current volume of patients new innovative features also include 80% single patient rooms the rooms will be designed in a way to improve infection control there will be outdoor spaces and terraces on each floor of the facility to help ensure fresh air and a welcoming and healing environment this hospital project represents our commitment to the province our government is proud to support West Park and healthcare staff across Ontario because as I said infrastructure is truly for the people next question for York South West thank you my question is to the acting Premier while the Conservatives focus on father enriching their wealthy friends youth unemployment in Ontario increased again in September and is now nearly 11% higher than the national average under the Ford Conservatives Ontarians youth are starting their life with crushing student death a minimum wage which does not even cover their bills and ever fewer job opportunities will the acting Premier join Ontario's NDP in committing to the creation of 27,000 for the new bait co-op and internship placements so that Ontario's youth can start their careers with less debt and more training acting Premier Minister of Labour thank you very much for the question youth unemployment is very much a concern over here we want better paying jobs and good jobs and more jobs in the province of Ontario we have said more time and time again that Ontario is open we are creating a climate where businesses can't expand and new businesses can come and so we are making life more affordable for young people we are decreasing taxes we are decreasing the price of gas we are decreasing hydro we are making an opportunity for young people to get good paying jobs in the province of Ontario as the people elected us to do thank you thank you through you Mr Speaker Ontario's youth should be making plans for bright futures not for fighting for survival the Liberals make life in Ontario increasingly unaffordable and the only solution that the Fort Conservatives propose is to make this hard times even worse by freezing the minimum wage and eliminating important work protection Ontario's youth cannot afford to buy back back room access to the Conservatives but I am here to ask the Government again on their behalf will the Conservatives make a meaningful investment in their future and in their future and in the future of this province by creating 27,000 new paid job training opportunities for young people Minister well Mr Speaker the PC Government was elected to make life more affordable in the province of Ontario and that's exactly of Liberal Government and Liberal Government not listening to the people of Ontario that they could not afford to stay here they could not provide for their families and they were supported by the NDP opposition party that we have today as I said we are making life more affordable for the people in the province of Ontario and we will continue to do that this is just the first 100 days next question the member for Bruce Gray Owen Sound my question is for the Government House Leader Mr Speaker last week our Government marked its first 100 days in office the constituents in my riding of Bruce Gray Owen Sound are feeling the benefits of the work our Government has done so far and delivering our plan for the people can the Government House Leader provide this legislature with an update on the great work our Government has delivered in its first 100 days Government House Leader one sound I've got to say and I know everybody is a little hungry because we've been here a little long in question period today but we are ready to work this Government is ready to work and we've proven that over the first 109 days that we have been in power we have accomplished so many things and I want to thank the whip for what a difficult question he has asked today for the things that we've accomplished we've scrapped the drive clean that's made life more affordable the Captain Gray that repressive job killing President Jackson gas prices are going down in Ontario we're cleaning up the hydro mess in Ontario renewing the leadership at Hydro One we're doing a line by line review our President of the Treasury Board right here is on an outstanding job at restoring accountability and trust in Government and we've got much much more on our agenda to do and we're looking forward to it period this afternoon pursuant, standing order 38A the member for London Fanshawe has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport concerning health care this matter will be debated today at 6pm I beg to inform the House that the following document has been tabled, a report entitled cap and trade from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario we have a deferred vote on Government notice of motion 11 regarding the allocation of time on Government order number 4 calling the members this will be a 5 minute bell vote members please take their seats members please take their seats are we seated earlier today Mr. Smith, Bay of Quinty moved Government notice of motion number 11 all those in favour of Mr. Smith's motion will be recognised by the clerk Mr. Smith, Bay of Quinty Mr. Walker Mr. Bethanfalve Mr. Thompson Mr. Fidelli Mr. Mulroney Mr. McLeod Mr. Hardiman Mr. Barrett Mr. Pettipies Mr. Marteau Mr. McDonnell Mr. Bailey Mr. Joe Scarborough Mr. Rickford Mr. Fille Mr. Miller Mr. Gill Mr. Klandra Mr. Skelly Mr. Martin Mr. Sarkaria Mr. Osterhoff Mr. Hillyer Mr. Nichols Mr. Romano Mr. Harris Mr. Holger Mr. Carahalios Mr. Chou Willedale Mr. Downey Mr. Kanjin Mr. Cram Mr. Tangry Mr. Rashid Mr. Sando Mr. Crawford Mr. Smith Mr. Dunlop Mr. Babikian Mr. Bulma Mr. Rana Mr. Pang Mr. Kuzetto Mr. Baber Mr. Sabawi The motion will please rise one at a time and be counted by the clerk. Madam Jelena Mr. Tabin Mr. Vantah Mr. Natasha Ms. Sattler Ms. Shaw Mr. Mamacla Ms. Siramanta Ms. Lindo Ms. Armstrong Mr. Kernahan Mr. West Mr. Gates Mr. French Mr. Miller Hamilton Mr. Hatfield Mr. Taylor Mr. Birch Mr. Arthur Mr. Morgan Mr. Glover Mr. Harding Mr. Hassan Mr. Fraser Mr. Quinn Mr. Coteau Madam LaLong Madam Derosia Mr. Shrine The ayes are 67, the nays are 43 The ayes being 67, the nays being 43 I declare the motion carried This house stands in recess until 3pm this afternoon