 Is it now time for question period the leader of Her Majesty's loyal opposition? Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the finance minister. Minister, the Dalmaginti was certainly known for his reckless spending. His finance minister doubled our provincial debt and had record deficits. 2013 was your first full year as finance minister and the deficit actually went up, not down. The deficit was $2 billion greater under your watch. So I'm going to ask you, minister, you had more revenue come in. How did you actually do worse than Dalmaginti's finance minister? Thank you. Minister of Finance? Well, I appreciate the question and I also referenced the leader of the opposition to his own projections, which by the way were even worse than what we did because we did cut spending, Mr. Speaker. We actually made and were disciplined in our determination in terms of reducing our spending, which we do, we recognize that revenues are much more than forecasted. And as a result, we take the necessary and appropriate steps to work towards our balance by 2017-18, and that's a prudent way. Now, the member opposite would claim that the best way to do this, Mr. Speaker, is to do across the board cuts, harm our recovery, ensure that those that are looking for security and opportunity are cut off the system. We're not going to do that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Well, you know, Speaker, of course I make the decisions to balance the budget, to send the signal Ontario is open for job creation again. Isn't that what we're here for? My question to you is, again, the 2012 deficit, the last year of the Dalmaginti government, was $9.2 billion. Instead of getting closer to balance, you actually increase the deficit. The wind liberals are actually more reckless in their spending than even Dalmaginti was. I recognize it's the same crew in different chairs. But finance minister, you had $3 billion in additional revenue, and the deficit got worse? Not better? What kind of signal does that send to job creators about the ability of the province to attract new jobs and new investors? Thank you. You see the face? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, we are record breakers. We've done five years in a row, Mr. Speaker. We've beaten our targets. For four, five years in a row, we've exceeded the targets, and our deficit has actually been... I would ask the member from MP in Carleton to withdraw. Mr. Speaker. Carry on. Mr. Speaker, it's necessary for us to always look for the long term and ensure that while short-term targets may be amended as required, we will always stay on target to balance the books by 2017-18 in a very prudent and pragmatic way. Every decision we're making, Mr. Speaker, is about creating jobs. It is why we've created over 450,000 net new jobs since the depth of the recession. It's why we've created over 650,000 net new jobs since 2003, Mr. Speaker. We are growing. The economy is growing because of the investments and stimulus that we've made. Final supplementary. Well, we are making some progress. I did get the finance minister to admit that they are record breakers when it comes to debt in the province. In fact, the finance minister now knows that under the win McGinty liberals, we actually have worse debt than California. Consider the basket case in North America when it comes to debt. You've actually a record breaker now. You surpassed California. What you have is, you mentioned the long-term. This is the most damaging policy in the long-term to go deep in debt. That means we won't have money for things we care about, like helper special needs kids, the best technology in our hospitals. It means jobs will leave the province and go to Alberta's Saskatchewan. So, minister, I think it took an extraordinary feat of incompetence to actually make the deficit bigger when you had more money coming in. So, what concerns me is under your budget leaking team, you're going to now have 39 new spending announcements, $2.7 billion. My simple question is, where are you going to find the money? So, Mr. Speaker, as a result of the work and transformation that we've been doing, we're roaring $23 billion less this year than anticipated. Our deficit has come down five years in a row, well ahead of what we had targeted. And we were the only government in all of Canada to actually cut spending year over year. We've controlled it less than 1% for the last five years running, Mr. Speaker. And as a result of that, we've become the lowest cost government per capita anywhere in Canada, anywhere at all. And we're proud of that because of the work that we're doing collaboratively with our stakeholders. And more importantly, Mr. Speaker, we've already instituted 80% of Don Drummond's recommendations, and it's now exceeded even his anticipated forecast of the work that we've done in the billions because of what we've made going forward. And the member erroneously makes reference to California as somehow that's a fair comparison. It is not, Mr. Speaker. We are the largest subnational jurisdiction in the world that borrows. They cannot. Thank you. New question? The new finance minister, well, Speaker, if I offended Californians by comparing them to the wind liberals, I do apologize to California taxpayers. Let me talk. I don't think what the minister said is keeping with the actual facts. The minister said that they've cut spending. No, spending has actually gone up dramatically under the liberals. The minister says that the lowest cost jurisdiction, minister, low cost jurisdictions do not run $11 billion deficits. I want to ask you one more thing. You know what? I'll go back because you didn't answer my question. This week, you're rolling out in your budget leaking team plan. Order. Additional $400 million. I don't see where we're going to get that money. You're going to have 39 announcements for $5.7 billion total. Isn't your plan going to drive Ontario into receivership? Our plan is going to drive Ontario on the path to prosperity. Thank you. Please. Thank you. Minister? The opposition member wants to talk about the facts. So let's please talk about the facts. All this is, is gimmicks and slogans and foreign nation-type politics, Mr. Speaker. Let's talk about the facts. We did cut spending last year, well beyond what was ever anticipated. Mr. Speaker, we are the lowest per capita cost government because of the work we've done, substantially lower than all other provinces, even the federal government, Mr. Speaker. And we will announce these answers in the budget, in this House, Mr. Speaker, nowhere else but the member has absolutely been making clear. Let's talk to them. The member from Renfrew, Nipissing, Pembroke, and the member from Prince Edward Hastings, now that's twice. Please. Thankfully, to the opposition, now Ontarians are well aware of our investments that we're planning to go forward because they recognize that that is important, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary. Is this hard to ask the finance minister questions when his grip on the facts seems superficial at best? Your deficit actually went up. You actually increased the deficit in your first full year as finance minister. I'm using your own numbers. I'll use your own language. You rolled out on Wednesday, almost an embrace of mediocrity. You said Ontario's long-term growth is going to be lower than the global average, weaker than the Americans, weaker than the British, weaker than the Australians, weaker than the other nine provinces. And that's everything that goes according to your plan. I believe Ontario can do a lot better than that. Speaker, I've got a plan to create a million jobs in our province. The minister boasts about his 39 big spending initiatives of $5.7 billion and more borrowed money. I want to ask the minister, when we look through what you're announcing in your budget outside of the house, why is there not one single idea about Ontarians back to work in this great plan? Thank you. Can you see the face? Can you see the face? Thank you, minister. Mr. Speaker, the details and the announcements will be made in this house nowhere else. So we're going to be illustrating all of these initiatives in our budget in this house. But let me say this, Mr. Speaker. The member opposite talks about the facts. Here's a great fact that everyone should be well aware of. Our deficit, our deficit, that's enough. I'll send somebody home. Mr. Speaker, our deficit is actually $900 million lower than the Tim Houdak PCs promised for this time in their 2011 PC platform. They themselves projected a higher deficit, a higher spending number than we've actually achieved. We're outpacing them, Mr. Speaker, and they have the audacity that they could do otherwise. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, it's difficult to get answers from the finance minister when it seems like his grasp of the basic numbers is tangential at best. Again, the deficit under Dwight Duncan, your predecessor, is $9.2 billion. You've increased it by over $2 billion, despite more revenue coming in. I think that when you're adding on more and more debt, that challenges our ability to provide the services that we care about. Mr. Speaker, you say the best we can do is trailer the other nine provinces for the next 20 years. I say we can lead again, Mr. Speaker. My plan will do exactly that. When businesses, when job creators look at Ontario, they see that you're on path to tripling our debt, you've doubled our hydro rates and we have the worst red tape in all of Canada, is it any wonder they're investing in other provinces? I've got a plan to bring the jobs back by a million jobs, but if you have no plan, why don't you give our plan a try? It's going to work. Thank you. Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, I find it passing strange. The member has just made reference to the fact that we have to afford the debt that we maintain. Because that is critically important. That's why we measure a net debt to GDP and ensuring that it takes the proper directory so that we don't pass a burden of debt to other provinces. One of the ways we do that, Mr. Speaker, is ensuring that there's greater prosperity and economic revival. We've been enhancing that. They have chosen to do the opposite. Because we're making the investments necessary to prop up our economy and create those jobs which have been created which under their leadership would not, Mr. Speaker. So we will take those steps necessary. We have made a very dynamic and inviting business climate for our jurisdictions in North America. We have more start-ups in Ontario than all of Canada combined. That's a strong signal. They want to go back to the days of assembly line manufacturing that we can't compete. We need to give in on those jobs for tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, please. Your question, the leader of the third party. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question to the acting Premier. It's unfortunate that the Premier is at a campaign-style event instead of being in the legislature to answer the questions. Mr. Speaker, she said and I quote, we are going to build on the legacy of Dalton. Can the acting Premier tell us whether this government is still so proud of that legacy of Dalton McGinty? Well, Speaker, I am enormously proud of the progress that we have made and continue to make under Premier Wynn. The member opposite feels it necessary to comment on the attendance of our Premier Speaker. What I would like to say is that our Premier has a very strong record not only when it comes to attending question period, but to answering questions when she's here, Speaker. Our finance minister announced our revised deficit. We'll meet our target by $400 million, Speaker. We gained 13,400 net new jobs in March and our unemployment rate fell 0.2% to 7.3%. Answer. We are implementing Drummond's recommendations. We're 80% of the way there to increase efficiency. Thank you. We've beaten our deficit. Seated, please. Supplementary. Well, it is unfortunate, Speaker, that the Premier couldn't be here today to answer the questions. No, actually keep it going. Sorry. Mr. Reference, anyone's attendance in this house and I'd say not to do it again, please. Carry on. Speaker, with regards to the ongoing investigation... Order. It's not the plan. We're going to get order. Carry on, please. With regards to the ongoing investigation by the OPP, the Premier said, and I quote, that is not the way government should operate. That is not the way a Premier's office should conduct itself. We're going to distance herself from the Premier that she worked for, she served with, and she helped elect. Can the acting Premier tell us whether the Liberals are still proud of the Dalton McGuinty legacy? Deputy Premier. You know, Speaker, when it comes to our Premier's response to the issues around the gas plants, I think that any observer, Speaker, would know that there has been more openness and transparency than we have seen before, Speaker. When Premier became Premier, she made a priority to bring openness and transparency to this issue and we have taken appropriate steps. One of the things we've done, Speaker, we've improved record keeping right across government and directive to all political staff has been sent out. We've got mandatory training in place now. We're improving our archiving requirements. You see the place? Final supplementary. Speaker, I think Ontarians will be sorry I should take that back. People expect their government to be open and accountable Speaker, but instead of getting straightforward answers or actual accountability, we have a Liberal Government pretending they've never heard of the leader that they served with for a decade and a Premier who finds a lot of time to talk to lawyers but can't manage to make it to work. Does the acting Premier think this is fair to families? Deputy Premier? Well, Speaker, I would hope that the member opposite will support the Accountability Act because that will prohibit the willful deletion of records that would create a penalty Speaker. We have been very, very open on 400,000 pages. Think about that for a minute. 400,000 pages of documents have been provided to the Justice Committee including 30,000 pages from the Premier's office. Speaker, it's important that we get the facts out there. It is not helpful when there are unsounded allegations Speaker, and we will continue to get the work done that the people of this province expect us to get done. Thank you. New question. Thank you, my question is again to the acting Premier. On Friday New Democrats wrote to the Premier to ensure that the former Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier, Laura Miller, could participate in the investigation about the wiping of computers. Have the Ontario Liberals been in touch with the BC Liberals to ensure that Laura Miller can return to Ontario to be part of this investigation? We've got one House Leader. We've got one House Leader. We have the Justice Committee right now is looking into the matter of the gas plants. They have every opportunity they are responsibly in the right to call whichever witnesses they see fit. There's a process in place. You'd be familiar with that, Mr Speaker, if they do encounter any problems in terms of calling forward that witness, Mr Speaker, but I would simply point out to the Leader of the Third Party that the Government has been cooperating fully, not only with the Justice Committee of which the Premier herself was the one who asked for its mandate to be broadened and its powers increased but we have also, Mr Speaker, been cooperating fully with the Ontario Provincial Police in their investigation and, Mr Speaker, we will continue to cooperate with everyone who's looking into this very serious matter. Thank you. Supplementary. Well, Speaker, the gas plant scandal has now crossed the Rockies and BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark isn't saying whether she thinks that Laura Miller should participate in the gas plant investigation here in Ontario. So will the Ontario Liberal Government contact the BC Liberal Government to explain how important it is for Ontarians to get to the bottom of the waste and the dollars that was spent on the gas plant moving and the wiping of computers in the Premier's office? Government help you. I thought the NDP was concerned about social issues. Again, I mean, we're, you know, the other week I commented that I think a lot of members are watching old Hillary Queen reruns. Perhaps the Leader of the Third Party is watching Perry Mason a little too much. Mr Speaker, there is an ongoing police investigation. Let's have the police undertake their work. There is a committee in the legislature, Mr Speaker, which is considering this matter and considering which witnesses to bring forward. It is their right to put forward that list, Mr Speaker, and to engage those witnesses put forward. Let's leave it to the committee to do their work. I can speak for the Government of Premier Wynn, Mr Speaker, and say that we have cooperated fully with the Justice Committee. I appeared in front of it, Mr Speaker. The Premier appeared several times, as did the Minister of Energy and other members of this caucus, Mr Speaker. We continue to cooperate with the Justice Committee. Thank you. Final supplementary. Speaker, the utter arrogance of the House Leader of the Liberal Party, the Liberal Government that would make jokes about the work the opposition is trying to do to hold this Government to account at a nationwide scandal. And Ontarians are worried whether the Liberal Government, wondering rather whether the Liberal Government will do its part to ensure that a key Liberal witness participates in ongoing investigations that are being done not only by the police but by the members of this very legislature. Does the Acting Premier agree that it is important that Laura Miller and Peter Feist come back from British Columbia to be part of the Gas Plant investigation? And will the Acting Premier commit that the Ontario Liberals will send that message to the BC Liberals? Mr Speaker, again, the Government will cooperate fully with the Justice Committee and with the OPP investigation. But if that Honourable Member wants to talk about arrogance, Mr Speaker, perhaps she should comment about her amnesia of the fact that it was the New Democratic Party as well as the Progressive Conservative Party that opposed the very Gas Plants that we're talking about. The fact of the matter that all three parties of this legislature, Mr Speaker, are on record opposing those Gas Plants. And if she wants to talk about arrogance and the fact that she has conveniently forgotten that fact, Mr Speaker, because it makes her case will not as straightforward, Mr Speaker. If she wants to talk about arrogance, Mr Speaker, then let's talk about her amnesia when it comes to that unfortunate fact, Mr Speaker. Thank you. New question. My question is as well to the Government House Leader. In the twilight of his days here as a member of Provincial Parliament, Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Mr Speaker for this House that the individual who allegedly wiped clean at the behest of the former Premier's Chief of Staff 24 hard drives in that office. That he had a criminal record, yes or no. Mr Speaker, again, there is an ongoing OPP investigation, Mr Speaker. The OPP to undertake their work. And what we heard, Mr Speaker, from the officer who appeared in front of the committee last week were two things. First of all, that the matter in hand dealt with Mr Livingston under the former Premier and also that members should stay out of it. And Mr Speaker, I am very, very pleased that our Premier has sought some legal advice and this is taking legal action, Mr Speaker, because what we are asking that member and the Leader of the Opposition to correct their statements and to apologize, Mr Speaker. And what's interesting, Mr Speaker, is that member in particular has had some experience with this and has had to do it in the past, Mr Speaker. So perhaps based on that experience she should take this new action. Fulmentary. Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. I'm going to go back to the Minister of Government Services. This is actually a pretty big deal. We want to know if this is the policy of the Liberal Party and the Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party to employ people with a criminal record without undergoing a security check and to give them unfettered access to the government's most secret information to allegedly then destroy that information to public scrutiny. Two Ontario judges said this individual was quote inconsistent as a witness and quote lacked credibility. But it was the Minister's government, his caucus and his party who up until last weekend allowed this individual to access some of the most sensitive government, legislative and party documents. In fact, the Minister of Government Services has been the government host leader the entire time as the constitutionally responsible minister of the IT of the government. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mr Speaker. Much of what was said by that member allegations which are unproven Mr Speaker are in fact the top of the OPP investigation. Let's leave it with the OPP. But again Mr Speaker, the Honourable Member seemed to need some reminding of January 31st, 2005 when she put out a statement that I'd like to read in part to the House. The operators of www.bluedraft.com Mr Speaker, that was a a blog that the member was involved with about the member from the Nippee and Carl and Chris Froggard would like to sincerely apologize to Marine Murphy Macon and Rick Morgan for wrongfully implicating them in a neuronia story in January, 2004 revolving around the decision by former PC leader Peter McKay not to seek the leadership of the new Conservative Party of Canada. We had the facts reported in the article were false and unfortunately based on a misleading source and it goes on Mr Speaker. Thank you. Stop the clock. It is not acceptable to read anything into the record that you cannot say that is unparliamentary language so I'm going to ask the member to withdraw. Those that decide to preempt what I'm trying to do will also have the same problem. New question. Member from Toronto, Danforth. Thank you Speaker. My question to the acting Premier, the government keeps claiming that they're being open but reports are still kept secret. It was because of an OPP anti-rackets branch warrant that we learned that the Ontario Public Services Cyber Security Branch completed a report on the Premier's office computers that were wiped clean, allegedly by Peter Feist. Will the acting Premier make that report public today? Deputy Premier. Mr Speaker, again, I think this is a selective presentation of the facts. If the Honourable Member reads the document that was released by the court about a week and a half ago it makes reference to a number of activities including the one he was just referring to which are all part of the ongoing OPP investigation Mr Speaker and I want to state very clearly Mr Speaker the investigation is entirely independent as it should be. OPP investigators have been working with a federal Crown Attorney from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada from the beginning to insurance independence. The member opposite seems to be suggesting that the government should somehow be interfering or inserting itself in the investigation Mr Speaker. That would be entirely inappropriate Mr Speaker and I think the good advice that we heard from the OPP officer last Thursday is to allow them to do their work. Thank you. Supplementary. Speaker again to the acting Premier, we learned that Liberal Party itself also has a secret report. Only when the allegations about Peter Feist were made public in an unsealed police warrant did the government say quote, an internal investigation was conducted the company was informed yesterday that services at the party office were terminated. Will the acting Premier tell Ontarians what that internal investigation found? Mr Speaker again, the Honourable Member should check his facts Mr Speaker. That shouldn't much of the opposition. That is as was announced and I believe I said it here in the legislature, perhaps the Premier. When those court documents were unsealed we looked into the matter and determined the two contracts that we have made public Mr Speaker and the details of that as is appropriate Mr Speaker were turned over to the police. They will determine if it's relevant to their investigation Mr Speaker. In fact the OPP has the leadership and this independent investigation and the advice that we heard very prudent advice last week from the OPP officer in front of the Services Committee is let's allow the OPP to do their work and stop this amateur detective hour here in the legislature. The question from Scarborough River. Thank you my question is for the Minister of Health and Long-term Care. Today on World Health Day I want to raise the issue of one of most prevalent and debilitating chronic diseases facing our province today. Nearly one and a half million Ontarians live with diabetes. Diabetes is an illness that disproportionately impacts those from the South Asian and African communities in this province and the prevalence of diabetes in Ontario is rising. Speaker like many other diseases awareness is the first step to live in a healthier life. Due to the stigma that is still attached to diabetes many diabetics do not openly disclose that they suffer from it. Could the Minister tell us what can be done to address the needs of Ontarians with diabetes. Thank you Minister of Health Long-term Care. Thank you to the member from Canada for this very important question speaker. Diabetes does affect many families right across the province and that's why people living with diabetes who need help managing their condition have much access to much more services than were available a decade ago. Later today I'll be participating in the launch of the Canadian Diabetes Association's Diabetes Charter for Canada. This Charter will give people with diabetes a stronger voice. It articulates a set of guidelines held by those suffering from the disease and it advocates for timely patient-centered care. This is the approach we're driving throughout our health care system. We're working to encourage patients to be at the centre of their decision making. Part of this is a focus on public education to help people with diabetes manage their illness and that's why we're going to put a new video to help diabetics properly monitor their blood glucose levels available at the end of the video. Thank you supplementary. Thank you speaker. The information the minister provided on the Diabetes Charter is interesting and is something that will be able to aid all of those who suffer from this disease. In my riding of Malvern community is service by Taibu Community Health Centre. This organization provides localised care that is catered to the community needs. This localised care at Taibu includes a public health service. The goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for people affected by type 2 diabetes by providing a culturally and linguistically appropriate service and high standards of diabetes care and education and promote self-management. Like this program there are several other examples of how our health care system is working to improve the lives of those living with diabetes and encouraging everyone to take care of their diabetes. Speaker, can the minister please share of the other initiatives our government has taken to fight diabetes and keep Ontarians healthy. Minister. Well thank you speaker. I'm proud to say that under our government every Ontarian with diabetes who wants a family doctor gets one. And since 2008 our Ontario diabetes strategy has improved access and quality of care for Ontarians with diabetes. We're the first province of Ontario to have children and adults with type 1 diabetes. We provide screening and early detection programs. More than 2700 high-risk individuals were screened last year. And we've established six centres for complex diabetes care and increased the number of diabetes education teams from 220 to 321. But the best way to fight diabetes is to prevent it in the first place. And that's why we've established the Healthier Choices Act to help parents make the best choice for their kids and families by providing nutritional information on menus. I urge all members to support this legislation. Thank you. Thank you and good morning speaker. My question is for the acting Premier. Many in our caucus have spent a lot of time getting to the bottom of the gas plant scandal. We've all seen your systematic attempt to keep children safe. We're victims of your attempts. You produce some documents and say that's everything. We push and two weeks later we get 20,000 more documents. You told us it was 40 million to cancel. We push and the Auditor General tells us it's 1.1 billion. We bring contempt. You bring prorogation. We ask you to bring in the OPP. You laugh. We bring in the OPP. We get damning evidence. You try to stop this. If we had stopped at any of the roadblocks you put up, we wouldn't have learned the cost of the scandal or the depths you've gone to cover this up. What are you hiding? The member will withdraw. Deputy Premier. So government services? You know. Mr. Speaker, I feel like that guy in the old movies after the Broadway plays and everyone sits around waiting for the news to come in. Well, Mr. Speaker, the reviews are in on how that party, particularly the leader, has handled this issue, Mr. Speaker. Let me share some of the quotes. Headline in the Sudbury Star April 3rd. The leader of the opposition loses credibility with cover-up claims. Again, the Sudbury Star April 3rd. The leader of the opposition engaged in unnecessary and ugly vitriol over the computer . The member from Renfrew and Epising Pembroke is warned. You know what that means. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, Sudbury Star April 3rd. If the leader of the opposition is prone to such ill-advised remarks in opposition, voters might well wonder how he can be trusted as Premier. Globe and Mail April 1st. The Conservative leader's aggressive attempts to score. Acting Premier, you can all laugh, but we have said all along that the deletion, destruction, and denials were going to be a bigger scandal than the $1.1 billion gas plant cancellation. It exposes what's at the very core of the Liberal Party. You went to great pains to block any evidence from ever coming forward. You turned over documents, we fought and got more. You deleted emails, we got them back. You destroyed emails, we call in the OPP. You've gone to great lengths all along the way to stop us from ever getting to the truth. And now we know why. We learn of widespread deletion of documents in the very office of the Premier. What's so damning that you have to destroy those emails? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, a number of my colleagues have come together and come up with a special announcement. I'd like to thank you. The first of April is the Conservative leader's aggressive attempts to score points without their backs to back them up. Toronto's April 1st, the leader of the opposition is inventing fanciful scenarios about the first day of wins premiership. against when our reminders of previous mistakes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the reviews speak for themselves. The fact is, this is a serious issue. The OPP are looking into it. Let's allow the OPP to continue their work. There was very clear last Thursday, Mr. Speaker, in the testimony to the committee, this is about what happened under the previous premiers. Watch, Mr. Speaker, and they are simply wrong. Thank you. New questions. Members from Bramley, Gore, and Mulvaney. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the acting Premier. Mr. Speaker, when did the Liberal government first become aware that the Peter Feist who was working for this Liberal Party was the very same Peter Feist who the OPP information to obtain, according to that document, staffers alleged that he was seeing wiping the computers in the Premier's office? Mr. Speaker, I believe that I answered the question to a colleague. I believe I answered the question several days ago that when this court document was made public a week ago Thursday that we looked into the matter, Mr. Speaker, and information came to light about two contracts, Mr. Speaker. We made that information public here in question period. I believe the Premier commented on it in a scrum. And several days later, Mr. Speaker, I believe it was a Sunday. Mr. Feist's company was told that their services were no longer needed by the Ontario Liberal Party. Mr. Speaker, that has been a matter of public record now for a week or 10 days, Mr. Speaker, since this story first broke. No question on auto insurance. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Will the acting Premier tell Ontarians what the internal investigation found that led the Liberals to distancing themselves from the Peter Feist, from Peter Feist more than a year after, according to the OPP information to obtain, staffers alleged that they saw him doing work on computers in the Premier's office? Wow. Give Paul Miller a question. I'm patient, Mr. Speaker. About 10 days ago, Mr. Speaker, a court document came forward that talked about some of the details of an OPP investigation, an investigation which has been a matter of public record, I believe, for about a year or so, Mr. Speaker. And what that court document suggested is that there are allegations serious yet unproven against Mr. Livingston, the former Chief of Staff, to the former Premier. What we have learned over and over again, Mr. Speaker, in both that court document and testimony before the committee, is there is an ongoing investigation, Mr. Speaker, the OPP. What we also learned with the advice from the OPP, is that the best thing for us to do is to stop playing amateur hour here in the legislature, Mr. Speaker. Allow the OPP to finish their investigation and reach whatever conclusions they see fit and then proceed through the justice system, if that is the case, Mr. Speaker. The honourable member and his colleagues are being reckless and they're being irresponsible. Thank you. New question, the member from Mississaugay Streetsville. Well thank you, Speaker. This question is for the Minister of Education. As the Minister knows, one of the issues we've dealt with in high growth boards, such as the Peel District School Board, is funding provided for special education through the high needs amount. I have spoken with our board and responded to questions from some parents and school councils in the western Mississauga communities of Lisgar, Meadowvale and Streetsville. Our concern is with how equitable the high needs funding is. Last week at Lisgar Middle School, I spoke with about four dozen parents and educators, along with the Chair and the Director of Education at the Peel District School Board, to discuss special needs funding provided through the grants for student needs. Would the Minister provide the House an update on how some of the inequities that existed are being addressed this year and how funding is provided for students with special needs? Thank you, Minister of Education. Yes, thank you, Speaker. And thank you to the member from Mississauga Streetsville for his question. And we have indeed heard from his community, as well as others, about the needs to address the high needs amount for special education through the grants for student needs. Boards have correctly observed that there are funding inequities because the data on which the old model is based is out of date. We need to update the demographic data. So we've been working with education stakeholders and actually a number of outside experts getting their advice over the last few years on how we can update the spec at funding model. We are taking their advice and this year we've introduced a four year old, four year phase in of a different funding model for high needs students, which reflects the expert advice. So the Peel District School Board, amongst several others, will in fact see their high needs amounts increase. Thank you. Supplementary. As the Minister knows, one of the many ways in which we invest in people is to build our education system. The Minister has already described one of the ways we support school boards to ensure that they have the resources to deliver a high quality education for our students. Another way we invest in education is making sure we have the facilities for that high quality education to be delivered in. Speaker, this year the Ministry has approved three new elementary school projects worth more than $45 million for the Peel District School Board, which serves Mississauga and Brampton. These new schools will add to the 61 schools that are built, planned or under construction in the Peel District School Board and that have received funding since 2003. Speaker, Peel Region continues to grow rapidly and we need the Ministry of Education to continue to invest in the people choosing to call Peel Home. Would the Minister explain to the House how funding decisions in capital investments are made? That's a cute Minister. Yes, thank you very much. And as the member noted, I was in the riding next to him in Brampton West recently to announce funding for three new schools in the Peel District School Board. That's part of the $12 billion investment in new schools and a major additions that we've made since 2003. But the process is this. The boards submit their capital requests each October to the Ministry. They're required to provide detailed business cases. This year, we received requests for 260 projects worth over $2.6 billion. So what happens is that my ministry goes through those detailed business cases, looks at a number of factors and this year we were pleased to announce that we're providing funding for 78 capital projects, including 39 new schools, 30 additions, and eight renovations all across Ontario. Thank you. New question. Member from North Central. To speak on my question, Minister, we know how deeply involved your predecessor, Mr. Bentley, was in the gas plants cancellation decision. I want to know your involvement in this file since you have been there over a year. This is an energy file and the expertise lies within the Ministry of Energy. I want to know what contribution or critical path you provided to the Premier on the cancellation file. We know your ministry conducted an internal review. What did you provide for the files deleted in your ministry? Mr. Speaker, when I was appointed Minister of Energy approximately a year ago, I devoted all of my time to working on a new long-term energy plan. We did province-wide consultation in every corner. We consulted with the First Nations people and we came forward with an agenda that has been very well accepted by stakeholders across the board, including environmentalists, including unions, people in the nuclear sector, renewables, hydro. My involvement to be fair to the question has been zero in terms of my engagement. Everything had taken place beforehand and I was looking to the future and I concentrated my efforts on having a very effective electricity system in the province of Ontario to supplementary. Gain to the Minister, Ontario's Privacy Commissioner has said and I quote, in this day and age ignorance is no excuse. Transparency of government activities reflected in their records is essential to freedom and liberty. I agree with the Commissioner, transparency and accountability is paramount to delivering good government. Ontario still don't know everything about your government scandal. Minister, how has your office been involved with the OPP investigation? And further, were any files on any computers in your office or your ministry deleted or wiped clean by the accused Liberal Party techie, Mr. Feist? Thank you. The member from Dufferin, Caledon will come to order. Quite frankly, very pleased. The Honourable Member mentioned Dr. Ankovukian the information Privacy Commissioner. Let me let me share some quotes. You'll want to hear this of what Dr. Ankovukian said about the current government. In July 26, 2013, she said, I think on a go forward basis the government is looking to change things. The government is dedicating to opening up access to government data. June 25, 2013, the government with respect to my investigation and the work that we've done. Any cooperation we needed was there. June 13, 2013, I have commended the Premier Kathleen Wynn's government's approach to dealing with this issue, referencing the staff training program she instituted and the memo circulated by our Chief of Staff. June 25, 2013, I'm pleased, I'm pleased now to report that the new government has acted proactively to address the recommendations made in my report. Mr. Speaker, I will let the words of the Information Privacy Commissioner speak for themselves. Before we go to the next question, the member from Hamilton, East Stony Creek, come to order. New question, the member from London West. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the acting Premier. Speaker, Ontario's correctional system is in crisis with increased violence, persistence, overcrowding and class action lawsuits against the government. Ontarians learned today through FOI that there were 3,000 prisoner-on-prisoner attacks in 2012 to 2013, an increase of 30% from five years ago. This rise in violence comes at the same time as overcrowding and correctional facilities with almost half of Ontario's jails above capacity last year alone. Will this government act now to address the overcrowding and stop the violence in Ontario jails? Thank you, Deputy Premier. To the Attorney General. Yes, Mr. Secretary General, I thank the member for her question. Of course, we have violence in the workplace, but that's why we track statistics like inmate on inmate violence to help us determine if our policy needs to change in order to deliver it effective and efficient correctional service to meet the need of changing offender population. As we know, inmate can be difficult at time and unpredictable, so despite the best effort, like I said, violence does occur in our jail facility. So we have invested approximately $10 million, Mr. Speaker, in new surveillance camera system in our larger facility. This is to enhance our monitoring capacity. We have increased staff in our facilities, and we are training new staff to add to in our facility. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Speaker, obviously more needs to be done. Too many inmates within our system are released back into the community after experiencing violence and custody, which is not only inhumane but puts public safety at risk. During his eight months at the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre, Glenn Johnson was beaten, stabbed with a pencil, and suffered multiple concussions. Some inmates like Adam Cargis at EMDC do not live to tell the tale and die during their incarceration. What will it take for this government to act and address the many issues in Ontario's jails? There has been a lot of improvement in our jail system. We have opened two new modern facilities. We are modernizing our old facilities. We stopped the closing of Sarnia Jail. We have added 2,000 new beds into the facilities. We wanted to make sure that both the inmates and the staff are safe in the workplace, and we will continue to improve. We are training new staff. We have hired approximately 200 to 300 correctional officers in 2014, and the same number will be hired in 2015. We additionally recruit, graduate over the past six months, 188 new recruitment, and we will continue to add the tools to be able to keep everyone safe. Thank you. New question. The member from the Scarborough Legion Court. Thank you. My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Minister, last fall your ministry has undertaken a variety of open houses to discuss how best we form the land use planning system. Residents in my writing of Scarborough Agent Court want our government to ensure that the planning system remains responsive to the changing needs of our communities while ensuring that we support a municipality on tariff development and construction industry. Many people think about development challenges in downtown Toronto where community like mine, Scarborough Agent Court face similar concerns. My residents also concern about how development changes affect the community. So, Minister, through you, Speaker, through the Minister, can you please explain to my constituents what our government is doing to ensure that they will have a voice on how Scarborough would develop. Thank you, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Speaker, thank you very much, and I want to thank the member for the question. Our government believes in having a strong land use planning system that gives municipalities the tools to manage growth so we can build the cities and towns we want to live in work and raise a family. I can understand, however, why your constituents would find the current system a bit difficult to navigate. In fact, we've heard from municipal leaders, planning officials, developers, and the public that the rules can be too complex and the delays and appeals too frustrating. That's why our government is moving forward with a refresh of this important system by listening to everyday Ontarians, municipal politicians, and community groups at regional workshops, and those workshops, Speaker, we're conducted right across the province. Kitchener Waterloo, Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, Mississauga, Toronto, and in my home community of Thunder Bay. So, Speaker, as a result of that, we're looking forward to continuing the work that was done by the former Minister to ensure that the land use planning system is going to work for all. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to hear that our government is giving municipalities the tools to be able to plot their own destiny and building communities that works for the residents. But despite the tools that municipalities have regarding development, projects can still be contentious. In fact, across Toronto, there are projects that worry the local councillors, the community, or even the city planners. And they believe that Toronto should be outside the Ontario Municipal Board. My writing in the Scarborough Aging Court, they're sympathetic towards removing the OMB, worried that this sort of change would make it even more difficult and expensive to challenge projects that believe are our place in the community. It will have to go through the court system. Speaker, through you to the Minister, can he please explain to my constituents the importance of well-structured land use planning system and the importance of the Ontario Municipal Board? Thank you, Minister. Thank you. And again, I want to thank the member for the question. We do, of course, understand how important well-planned development is for our communities and that's why the OMB is so critical. We know the OMB has made decisions from time to time that are contentious in some of our communities and that's why during this review, our government has listened to constructive ideas surrounding the OMB. The OMB makes dispute resolution easier, it's cheaper, and it's faster for community groups and municipalities than the courts. That's important, Speaker. We need to all remember that. And it plays an important role in hearing land use appeals, attempting to balance the provincial planning policy with local planning decisions and community interests. However, suggestions that we have received from the third party about how to reform the planning system, they're not solutions, Speaker. The proposed changes, they're haphazard, they're piecemeal, and they would only increase the cost and time spent by community groups and municipalities to appeal planning disputes. That's why our government can move forward with a land use planning refresh that will deal fairly with all of the communities from north to south while ensuring that as our communities grow, they remain sustainable, stronger, and more vibrant. Thank you. Your question, the member from Burlington. Minister of Finance, Minister, you may recall last, pardon me, that several Liberal Cabinet ministers quit last year. Laurel Broughton, Margaret Best, your predecessor Dwight Duncan, even the Premier, Jump Chef. Titanic. So did his staff. The slate was white clean. Anyone curious about how much these folks made in severance would naturally check the sunshine list. If they did, they would not find any answers. Minister, why is your government hiding this salary information? And if it can't get this much right, what else is it hiding? Good question. Thank you. Finance. Mr. Speaker, we're not hiding anything. We're the, we're the party that brought forward an opening Transparency Act. We're the one that are disclosing more information than any other government. In fact, CDL Institute and it's in the public domain. CDL Institute has just ranked Ontario as one of the top governments in Canada for full disclosure, integrity of our numbers. Mr. Speaker, we'll continue to do that and just read the books, Mr. Speaker. They're there to be seen. Thank you. Thank you. Supplementary, please. Minister, the sunshine list is one of Ontario's longest running measures of government accountability. Three years ago, the sunshine list showed former e-health executive and deputy health minister Ron Sapsford took home $762,000 despite the fact that he had quit the year before. After that story broke, Premier McGinty vowed, quote, we're going to shine a light on all expenses so Ontario's will know who exactly is spending what exactly, unquote. Minister, if you're so dedicated to transparency, why can you not even meet the low bar set by the former Premier? Good question. Mr. Speaker, the sunshine list exists and it's displayed and we tell the public and we disclose the information that's required. We've enhanced our Transparency Act to provide even further information and greater integrity of the numbers. As I said, CDL Institute, even Ford has illustrated Ontario as one of the top jurisdictions, top governments in the world in terms of its ability to have numbers with great integrity and transparency and we will continue to do so and I should remind the member opposite that their own numbers that they've claimed in their platform has not exceeded, has not even met the targets that we've been able to achieve thus far. We're outpacing that own part, that party opposite who claimed that they can even do better and their numbers show that they would even do worse, Mr. Speaker. We'll move ahead and we'll do what's necessary for the benefit of all the people of Ontario. Mr. Speaker, my question is the Minister of Transportation. The Minister of the Environment is warned. Carry on. Mr. Burton, Quartha Lakes will come to order. Carry on. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Transportation. The Niagara region is united in calling for a daily GO train service to Niagara Falls. Twelve Niagara mayors and the Chamber of Commerce have all called on this government to bring GO to Niagara and to make it a top priority to improve the region's economy. Niagara Falls faces one of the highest unemployment rates in the province. The Niagara Regional Chair, Gary Burrell, says GO can be a game changer for our local economy. Will the Minister commit to a timeline to finally bring GO train service to Niagara? Thank you, Minister of Transportation Infrastructure. Thank you very much and I appreciate the question from the Honourable Member. We are working right now, we are in the middle of the largest expansion of GO in our history. We have exceeded now $10 billion investment in GO and we have now extended service as you know and I take that train on the weekend because I cycle in St. Catherine's in Niagara. To move to all-day two-way GO service to Niagara we have issues of canal crossing, track acquisition which costs hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars so we're trying to build that into our plan. One way the member opposite and his party could help would be supporting the government on its efforts to bring in the new revenue tools so that we can actually pay for a greater extension. So we look forward to working with the Chancellor and we look forward to some clarity on their position on funding transit Mr. Speaker because that's all that's holding us back from doing it Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker a petition is circulating in Niagara to bring daily GO train service to Niagara that already has more than 2,400 signatures. The unemployed and the underemployed in Niagara can't wait any longer. This government has had years of studies and discussions on bringing a daily commuter rail service to Niagara. The time for promise is over. When will this government bring daily GO to computer GO rail service to Niagara? Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. We actually have not been doing that. We have not been studying and studying and studying. We've been investing 10 billion dollars 14 billion dollars in infrastructure. Now I say to the honorable member because I think we would agree on this. The party opposite spent 1.4 billion dollars on infrastructure. We spent 14 billion and for 30 years in this province we under invested in infrastructure. So we are making up for a 30 year backlog. How do we accelerate what is already the biggest investment in GO and rapid transit in Ontario's history? It takes more money. We do not have a majority in this house. So we look to our friends in the third party to get greater clarity on a range of revenue tools that they could support. We're told by you you support transit but it takes more than words. It takes writing a check. So we need to raise the money to write the check. Thank you. And we look to the member and his party to support us. Thank you Mr. Speaker. A new question to the member from Starville Guildwood. Thank you Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Speaker the warm weather is a welcome change to my constituents in my riding of Scarborough Guildwood. It's that time of year when everyone wants to get outside and tour not only in my community but communities across Ontario. With the change in weather more bicycles and running shoes have finally come out of storage. Members of my community are able to tour on foot or on bike and see what Ontario has to offer. Although the warm weather is welcome it also raises concerns about cycling and pedestrian safety. Speaker I was delighted to hear about the introduction of Bill 173 keeping Ontario's roads safe. Through you to the Minister I'd like to hear what is included in this bill that will help keep my constituents safe as they enjoy this warm weather and tour around communities across Ontario. Thank you Minister of Infrastructure Transportation. Thank you Mr. Speaker there's three there are two threes in this. One I want to give credit to all members of this house because this bill contains ideas from both the opposition parties as well as the government Mr. Speaker. The other three is not just three parties but three groups. One Mr. Speaker for motorists this will change the inspection standards and introduce very strong powers for the registrar to make sure that Ontarians are protected from buying substandard used vehicles and to get those unsafe vehicles off the road. Very big priority for motorists Mr. Speaker. For cyclists this introduce things like the one meter rule and dooring which will actually remove the biggest charges the coroner has told us are our risk to the lives of all of us who cycle. Mr. Speaker it is also really important because this will allow municipalities a greater range of options with pedestrian crossings and get pedestrians more rights on the road Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Time is up for question period. The member from a topical center on a point of work. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. I would like to offer a warm welcome to the Trillium Gift of Life Network as they join us today in the legislature and to encourage every member here to come this evening to a reception at 530 in the dining room where you have the opportunity to hear from those the families who have given and to those the families who have received. Thank you very much. Thank you. Attorney General on a point of work. To correct my record and then please go ahead. The member from London West I said that I have something like I agree that there is a violence in the workplace I meant violence in the correctional facilities. Thank you. Thank you. The member for nipissing on a point of work. A point of privilege Mr. Speaker. I will briefly summarize the many precedents and arguments that I put forward in my written submission to you this morning. I rise today after providing you with the appropriate notice regarding my intention to stand on a point of privilege for contempt of this legislature. Last week the Ontario PC caucus was given a rollout calendar prepared by the Liberal government's self-proclaimed budget leaking. Do you want me to wait a moment while they leave Speaker. I'm still listening I'm taking notes. Thank you. The Liberals self-proclaimed budget leaking team it'll outline 39 budget policy announcements and 5.7 billion in additional spending over the course of 27 days in the lead up to the May budget. Before rising on a point of privilege Speaker I waited to see if this calendar was an accurate portrayal of the government's plan to announce budget initiatives. On Friday it became clear that this was indeed the case. On Friday the minister responsible for seniors made the government's first budget announcement regarding the seniors grant program. This event can be found on page three of the document titled pre-doc communications rollout or the budget leaking team that I gave you. The issue at hand is what appears to be a coordinated effort by the Liberal government to make budget announcements outside of the legislature via public relations events. The fact that this government has formed a team of ministry of finance officials and labeled them as quote budget leaking team demonstrates that the government fully intends on leaking the budget as a public relations stunt. O'Brien and Bask described the budget as a quote formal budget presentation offering a comprehensive assessment of the financial standing of the government and giving an overview of the nation's economic condition quote. They go on to state that quote there is a long standing tradition of keeping the contents of the budget secret until the minister of finance actually presents it in the house quote. Unfortunately under this Liberal government we have seen budget announcements become more prominent and frequent. These announcements release key components of the budget of the to the public before the opposition gets to hold the government to account in the legislature. Quite frankly I'm concerned that the government's behavior is a potential contempt of this legislature. Speaker I want to be explicitly clear today I am not claiming that there was a breach of members privilege inside the legislature but rather I believe that the government's decision to hold public relations events to announce budget initiative amounts to a contempt of the legislature because it lessens the role of the legislature. Parliamentary experts support this position. O'Brien and Bask state that quote all breaches of privilege are contempt of the house but not all contempt are necessarily breaches of privilege. Erskine May describes contempt as quote an act or omission which obstructs or impedes either House of Parliament in the performance of its functions. He then goes on to state that quote indignities offered to the house by words spoken or writings published reflecting on its character or proceedings have been punished by both the Lords and Commons upon the principle that such acts tend to obstruct the houses in the performance of their functions by diminishing the respect due to them. That is why I'm calling on you to intervene in this matter. It is concerning that the Slippery government is more focused on rolling out their budget initiatives outside of the legislature and diminishing the respect that is due to the function of the house. It's an example of the government ignoring the house and the fact that they are accountable to Ontarians via the MPPs that sit in this assembly purposely making budget announcements well in advance of a budget motion or bill being tabled in the house goes against what we do as parliamentarians and what we do in Parliament. The role of parliamentarians is to hold the government accountable. When the government bypasses Parliament it is an affront to parliamentary democracy. Finally I want to draw the Speaker to the precedent from this legislature which supports my point of privilege. I refer to you Speaker Carr's ruling from May 8th 2003 regarding the government's presentation of the Magna budget. Speaker Carr's ruling focused on the fact that when budgets are presented outside of the house quote there is a danger that the representative role of each and every member of this house is undermined is undermined that respect for the institution is diminished and that Parliament is rendered irrelevant quote. Carr went on to say that quote Parliamentary democracy is not vindicated by the government conducting a generally one-sided public relations event on the budget well in advance of the members having an opportunity to hold the government to account for the budget in this chamber quote. This is precisely what is at issue here. The government has employed a budget leaking team to make budget announcements to the public long before members of this legislature see it. In the Magna case Carr ruled that a prima facie case of contempt existed because the issue raised too many questions and concerns. In his ruling he expressed the uneasiness about the road the government was going. He found that quote it is one thing not to make traditional budget speech in the house because the government is backed into such a decision by an ongoing house process or a budget leak it is quite another for the government to have a deliberate plan not to do so quote. Speaker in 2003 speaker Carr clearly ruled that the Magna budget was a mistake. This is why we were so shocked when the Liberals planned and then executed the same thing over a year later. In conclusion members of this house are concerned with the recent recent actions by the government not only to employ a budget leaking team but to make budgetary announcements in advance of the budget. It is concerning that this has been a growing trend. The government is more focused on media and public relations rather than being accountable to the members of this legislature. Announcing budget initiatives outside of the legislature removes the function of our parliament and our ability to hold the government to account. Any ruling other than a prima facie case of contempt will inevitably lead to even more egregious abuse. Thank you speaker. The house leader for the third party. Well Mr. Speaker I don't want to take a lot of time but I want to weigh in on what is this particular point of privilege as being raised by the member. We need to remember the main function of what this legislature is about is approval of money. That's what this thing is all about. Dating back to the model parliament of 1295 is when the people decided or in those days those the barons and others decided that you could not allow the king in this case the executive the right to spend money and the right to tax without having parliament do the actual approval. And so back to 1295 and that's a pretty long history. There is all kinds of evidence where essentially the executive in this case but back then the king is essentially precluded from being able to spend money and to tax people without the approval of the legislature. So when you have a government that's essentially out there trying to find ways of getting around announcing things that are quite frankly directly related to the budget it's a diminishment of the role of this house. The members of this house are primarily our large responsibility if you take a look at what the constitution calls for in regards to the makeup of the legislature is to approve the budget and to make sure that we give approval to both the taxation if we decided to do that in this case probably wouldn't but on the quay or when it came to the expenditure. So when a government is trying to get around the provision of what this parliament is all about I think it takes us a responsibility of stepping back and looking at what is really being done here and I would just argue this is again just a weakening of what I think is the role and responsibility of this legislature when a government decides to try to get around what the responsibility of the legislature is and I would ask you to give this all due consideration. Thank you. Government House Leader. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker I'm pleased to respond on behalf of the government. Mr. Speaker I've had a chance to review the presentation that was sent by the member from Nipissing to myself and the other house leaders several hours ago and I would argue that the point of privilege he has raised is completely without merit. The presentation has confused the concept of budget secrecy which is a political convention with the presentation of a budget outside of the house. The former Mr. Speaker does not give rise to contempt. Previous Speaker's rulings confirm that budget secrecy is a matter of parliamentary convention and not a matter of privilege. In one example that I'll share with you Speaker, Sove noted that a breach of budget secrecy has and I quote no impact on the privileges of a member. She went on to say that it and I quote again has to do with the conduct of the minister in the exercise of his administrative responsibility. In a May 9th 1983 ruling the Speaker of this house noted and I quote I am unable to find any precedent which states that the matter of budget secrecy is one which may be treated as a question of privilege end of quote. Speaker went on to say and again I quote budget secrecy is a political convention as is the practice that the treasurer presents his budget in the house before discussing it in any other public forum it has nothing to do with parliamentary privilege end of quote. Indeed prior rulings make it clear that it's appropriate to announce policy and published material for consultation and take reasonable planning measures in advance of the passage of legislation provided that it does not adversely impact the legislative process or rights of the members in the legislative process. On February 22nd 2009 in this legislature Mr. Speaker, Speaker Curling stated the following when ruling on a similar motion and again I quote there is nothing wrong with anticipation per se it happens a lot the issue is whether the announcement goes further and reflects adversely on the parliamentary process end of quote. He went on to say and again I quote in my opinion the wording and tone of the documents are not dismissive of the legislative role of the house on the contrary they indicate that the government had plans and proposals that require not only negotiation but also the introduction and passage of legislation in particularly the board letter and press release contain conditional phrases such as quote intends to introduce legislation those quote we are proposing quote and legislation that if passed that's the end of speaker the excerpt from Speaker Curling's ruling that I want to share with you. The only case cited by the member from Nipissing that relates to the budget process is of course the May 2, 2003 Femafatchi finding of contempt made by Speaker Gary Carr. In that case the member's own party presented a budget speech in a private facility during a time when the house was parode. This is obviously an entirely different set of circumstances. There has not been any intent or intention to deliver the budget speech this particular budget Mr. Speaker outside of this house. The Minister of Finance fully intends to deliver the budget speech in the house in the normal course. It is important to note that it was the PCs Mr. Speaker I close on this who first made the information that is the subject of this point of privilege public. So if the member truly believes that the present that presenting this information before the formal introduction of the budget is a matter of contempt why would he be so quick to make it public. It's clear Mr. Speaker that the point of privilege which the member from Nipissing raises is without merit and I of course Mr. Speaker will provide you with the references that I've raised today as well as my colleagues in the other parties. Thank you. The official opposition post leader. Yeah I would just point out Mr. Speaker and I I do this respectfully but the honorable post leader for the government side hinges his argument on a point of privilege which I assume an individual member. We are seeking a primary case of contempt the house and as you know from precedent there is a great distinction and I would just remind you of page two of our submission and ask you to seriously consider that. Thank all members for their contribution and discussion on this particular topic I will reserve my ruling for a later date in order to devote some time to this to ensure the ruling is appropriate. There are no deferred votes this house stands recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon.