 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of the official opposition. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. Early this morning, the Premier claimed that Toronto City Hall is dysfunctional and focused on the wrong priorities, yet under his leadership last night, Queen's Park was barricaded to the public, literally in the dead of night, to ram through a bill that strips citizens of their charter rights. An issue that the Premier didn't mention once during the election campaign. Is that what functional looks like to this Premier? Through you, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank everyone for staying here last night. I want to thank the NDP, the Liberals, the Green, and especially our party. Leader of the opposition, you're accusing me of doing things, but you weren't even here last night. While you were sleeping, your team was fighting for... The Premier will take us in. It's not helpful or appropriate to make reference to the absence of any members. The Premier. Trump. We were here last night like tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people around this province. The police officers that have to work at night, the nurses that have to work at night, factory workers that have to work at night, I don't know what we were making such a big deal about, because we actually had to work at night. No different than anyone else. We were fighting for the taxpayers of this great city, as we were working tens of thousands of people... Nope. Time's up. Supplementary. His Premier never disappoints with his pettiness. The people who fill the galley of citizens. The Premier may want to ignore them, but unlike the professional actors that he hired to cheer him during the campaign, these folks are not going away, and they're not alone. Last week in question period, the Premier said that former Prime Minister Jean-Claetien agreed with his plan to override charter rights. Has the Premier been updated lately on what the former Prime Minister actually thinks? Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker. We are here to make sure that, as I've said over and over again, we're here to get this city moving. We're here to build transit, to get people from home to work, believe it or not, sooner than three hours. It takes people sometimes three and four hours to get back and forth to work, because we don't have any transit. The infrastructure is just crumbling underneath our feet, and we all know about the housing crisis. We have a major housing crisis, and we're going to make sure that we fix the transit, that we fix the housing crisis, and we start getting infrastructure going. My friends, if we have to work every single night for the next four years, that's exactly what we'll do to get it done. Final supplementary. I was asking, it seems like the Premier got a bad briefing last week, because this is what Prime Minister Kretschian and others wrote this week, quote, we condemn Premier Ford's actions and call on those in his cabinet and caucus to stand up to him. The statement wasn't just signed by Prime Minister Kretschian. It was also signed by Roy McMurtry, the Conservative Attorney General who helped frame the charter. He's joining other prominent progressive conservatives, wondering what has happened to their party, and thousands of Ontarians who think the charter is more important than the Premier's fixation on the City of Toronto. Does the Premier think that every one of these people are simply wrong, and that he and he alone is right? That's right. Premier, through you, Mr. Speaker, it's very clear in the Constitution, it's very clear that we were able to use it, we have the right to use it, and we will use it. My friends, my friends, I can tell you, this is about protecting the people of Toronto. It's not about protecting the downtown NDP, I have never seen a group of people waste so much energy on protecting politicians' jobs than each and every one of you. I just wish once, Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition would come in with some cost savings, with some ideas to save the taxpayers' money, rather than always thinking about, just think, God forbid, the Leader of the Opposition actually won. They'd be 4,500 people out of work right now in Pickering. They'd be looking for jobs, we'd be paying close to $2 a Leader for gasoline. Thank you. Thank you. Next question. The next question is also for the Premier, the Premier who lost 81,000 jobs in August in Ontario. Ontario, they're sending their kids to schools that have led in the drinking water. They're crammed in hospital hallways waiting for treatment. As I said, 80,000 of them lost a job last month. They're looking to Queen's Park for action, instead they see a Premier who has dropped everything to focus on the size of Toronto City Council, even though senior figures in his own party tell him he's wrong, even though he has to barricade himself inside this legislature in the dead of night, even though it means overriding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. What does this Premier say to families who have different priorities? Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker, that's pretty rich. That is pretty rich coming from the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Speaker. The same Leader of the Opposition that propped up the Libbles 97% of the time, propped them up on all the scandals, propped them up on raising the hydro rates, propped them up on raising taxes. You were side by side, shoulder to shoulder, with the most politically corrupt government in the history of Ontario. The people of this province need good jobs. Instead, they get the Premier's grudges with Toronto City Councilors. The people of this province need good schools where their children can drink the water. Instead, they have a provincial government obsessing about one municipal election. The people of this province need shorter wait times in hospitals. Instead, they get a government that's taking away their rights literally in the middle of the night. The people of this province need a government that makes their family a priority. Instead, they have the Premier who makes himself a priority. When is this Premier going to get his priorities straight? Premier. Thank you. We're making sure we're getting the priorities right through you, Mr. Speaker. This government here, the PC government, no one in the country has ever moved quicker for the taxpayers than this government right here. Opposition could look at our top 20. Our top 20 that we're already saving hundreds of millions of dollars for the taxpayers. No matter if it's getting rid of the wind turbines, over 700 turbines are gone, over $700 million is saved back into the taxpayers' pocket. No matter if it's challenging the federal government on the carbon tax, the worst tax anyone could ever see. My friends, we're going to continue working hard for the taxpayers. We're going to work hard for the people of Toronto, the economic engine of Ontario. We will create jobs. We won't be losing 300,000 jobs like the previous couple. Thank you. You know, Speaker, usually it takes years for governments to lose touch and wear out their welcome with the people who elected them. I can remember the backbench of government members who were here a few short months ago on this side who ignored their constituents and followed a Premier who had lost touch with people's priorities. The Premier bragged last night that skeptics doubted that he could pass this bill. No one ever said the Premier couldn't get this bill passed. Thousands and thousands of Ontario's think he shouldn't get this bill passed. They want a government that's fixing schools, cutting wait times and creating jobs, not a Premier locked in the legislature in the middle of the night, railing against old enemies at his old job. Does this Premier understand the difference, Speaker? Premier. Mr. Speaker, again, the leader of the opposition was pretending she was here. It must have been in her dreams. Because when I was speaking, the leader of the opposition. Once again, it's inappropriate and unhelpful to make reference to the absence. At any given time, a member might be absent. Any of us might be absent for a good reason. So that's why we don't do it. Premier. Response. It's like she wasn't here. Partner. I couldn't help myself. Partner. Mr. Speaker, through you, again, this government in here is to make changes. It's about, as I said last night, it's about empowering the people instead of the government. It's about putting money back into the people's pocket instead of the government's pocket. It's about reducing the size and cost of government. People are just tapped out in this province. They can't afford any more taxes. We can't make sure. We have to make sure that every single area that the previous government implemented to raise the taxes, no matter if it's your license fee, even $7 as the finance minister said last night, $7 maintenance. Thank you. Thank you. The opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is to the Deputy Premier. Coincidentally, the person who had the most votes during the Conservative leadership and the most writing support. The Premier has indicated that he would, quote, not be shy about overriding the charter again in order to get what he wants. The Deputy Premier stated last week that she was confident that any future attacks on charter rights would be discussed at the Cabinet table. Can the Deputy Premier give us some sense of what her no-go areas will be when it comes to overriding charter rights again? Deputy Premier. Mr. Municipal Affairs. Mr. Municipal Affairs and Housing. Senator. Speaker. Through you, thank you to the member for the question. This was a historic morning. The member for Hamilton West and Caster Dundas will withdraw. I will withdraw. And again, I will write the members. Ministers have the right to refer a question if they choose to do so. Minister, Mr. Municipal Affairs and Housing can reply. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, the reason we recalled the legislature on Saturday, the reason we were here this morning and have already had six and a half hours of debate on Bill 31 is because time is of the essence. We have an election on October 22nd in order to preserve that election in order to ensure that that streamlined Toronto Council is available to make those important decisions upon their election. That's why we're here. We need to have Bill 31, the Efficient Local Government Act passed. We're asking if the opposition really truly wants to build transit, if they really truly want to build infrastructure, then they should be supporting our bill because that's exactly what we're trying to do. We're trying to have that streamlined council. I again ask the opposition to support. Well, back to the Deputy Premier. People are justifiably confused as to where the Deputy Premier stands on all of this. She hinted that she might be willing to stand up to the Premier the next time he tries to trample Ontario's charter rights, but this time she's effectively silent, even as progressive conservative giants like Bill Davis, Brian Mulroney, Roy McMurtry and Peter McKay step forward to say that the Premier is wrong. McMurtry even urged the Cabinet and caucus to stand up to Premier Ford. And I quote, history will judge them by their silence. If the Deputy Premier won't stand up for the charter now, why should anybody believe that she will any time in the future? Thank you, Speaker. Well, I'll tell you something. The Premier wasn't silent during the election, every day during the election. He talked about reducing the size and cost of government. He talked about respecting the taxpayers' dollars. You know what I want, Speaker? But the people sent us here to get things done, and that's exactly what this question remember for Bruce Gray on sound. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Through you, my question is for the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks. In the past couple of months, we've seen many flip flops with the federal government and their climate change plan. We've seen them climb down over their carbon pricing guidelines. And just three weeks ago, NDP Premier Rachel Notley pulled Albert out of the federal climate plan, citing the federal government's inability to get their natural resources to market. She expressed feelings of anger and anger with the federal government having let them down. Last Friday, our Minister provided an update to the people of Ontario with a very important step forward taken by our government against the federal government's attempt to impose a carbon tax on the people of Ontario. Can the Minister, through you, Speaker, can the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks explain to the House what progress has been made? Good question. Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Through you, Mr. Speaker, thank you to the member from Bruce Gray for his hard work on behalf of his constituents and for all of us last night was well noted. Mr. Speaker, during the election, our plan was clear and a cornerstone of that plan was to make sure that we repealed the job-killing regressive cap-and-trade program of the previous government. And that, if necessary, we would fight the imposition of the liberal carbon tax on the people of Ontario all the way to the Supreme Court. Last week, our government issued what's called a statement of particulars with the Ontario Court of Appeals. It lays out the next steps in that fight to ensure that Ontario families are not penalized or not punished by the liberal tax. Mr. Speaker, this statement outlines the reasons why our position on the carbon tax is that it is unconstitutional and our government will put the people first and stand against any carbon tax from the federal liberals. Here we go. Supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the minister for his answer and back to the minister of the environment. It's clear that this government has done more and kept more promises in the first four months than the previous government had in the last four years. This is a government that keeps the promises it makes to the people of Ontario. Speaker, the language from the federal government is concerning. They have been clear that they believe the only solution to climate change is a tax. Sounds a bit like the NDP. We have been equally clear that we reject that notion. Speaker, as Bill 4 would rid the province of the liberals' cap and trade scheme, we will need a plan that climate change presents to our future generations. Can the minister advise this House as to what the government's plans are to address climate change in Ontario? Here, here. Response. Mr. Speaker, through you to the member, Ontario has made significant progress in climate change. Total greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 22% since 2005. This achievement has come at a cost to Ontarians. Ontarians have done a great deal, and Ontario can and will do more. Mr. Speaker, we recognize the challenge that climate change faces and we will do our part. That's why we consulted with the people of Ontario through the campaign and our first step was Bill 4 to withdraw the failed cap and trade program of the previous government. We're now working on a made in Ontario plan, a plan that will balance taxpayers' interests with the interests of the environment and prepare Ontario for the climate change. Our Ontario made plan will build on the results we've achieved, balance the economy and the environment and not penalize Ontario families. Start the clock. Next question, the member for Brampton Centre. Good morning, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Attorney General. By convention, the Notwithstanding Clause is reserved for extraordinary circumstances only. Employing it to metal in Toronto's municipal elections is a frivolous use of a tool that is meant to prevent the use of this controversial loophole is a troubling sign of what's to come. Speaker, using the Notwithstanding Clause in this instance sets a frighteningly low bar for violating our constitutional rights in the future. If the government is willing to use it to attack Toronto now, where will the Attorney General draw the line? The Attorney General. Mr. Speaker, there is wide consensus that Section 33, as conceived by those who approved it, said that it was to be a tool that balanced the role of the courts and the role of the legislature. Alan Blakeney, the former NDP Premier of Saskatchewan at the First Minister's conference on the Constitution in November of 1981, said that Section 33 is, and I quote, fully consistent with the sort of argument that we have put forward, that we need to have balance between the protection of our institutions, which have served us so well for so many centuries. Mr. Speaker, we have been clear that we are invoking Section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, because time is of the essence, the election is on October 22nd, and the voters of Toronto need certainty. Start the clock. Supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And while I can appreciate the comments made by the Attorney General, this weekend 400 legal professionals in Ontario signed a petition to vote against the use of the notwithstanding clause. The letter says, and I quote, the government is beholden to the highest law in the land, which is the Constitution. We expect the Attorney General to value the role of the judiciary and the important check that the courts have on the impulses of the government. End quote. Does the Attorney General believe the judiciary has a responsibility to act as a check on our government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Honourable Member for her question, and she references the highest law in our land. Section 33 of the Charter, which is part of the highest law of our land, confirms the paramountcy of legislatures to decide matters within their actual, Mr. Speaker, that recognises the longstanding principle that Canada is a parliamentary democracy. The purpose of Section 33 is to provide a mechanism so that where there is a disagreement surrounding the constitutionality of a law that the people get the final say, Mr. Speaker. Parliamentary power, the ramifications of our decisions will occur at the ballot box. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question, the Member for Aurora, Oak Bridges, Richmond Hill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. The summer season is winding down for tourism operators across the province. In my writing of Aurora, Oak Bridges, Richmond Hill, and the town of Ontario. People come from near and far to enjoy attractions such as the Great Moraine, the Lake Wilcox, and the David Dunlop Observatory, among other great attractions. Can the Minister tell us about how tourism is important to Ontario's economy and to creating good jobs right here in Ontario? Mr. Speaker, the Member from Oak Bridges, Aurora, Oak Bridges, Richmond Hill is absolutely right. Tourism is an important part of Ontario's economy. In fact, the tourism sector generates over 390,000 jobs and generates $34.1 billion in economic activity. Our ministry will work with tourism industry to maximize growth and investment and send a message that Ontario is open for business. Our government is committed to versifying and strengthening tourism from the north to the south to the east to the west. This is an important part of Ontario's economy and I would love to expand on that in your supplementary. Supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that very insightful answer. It reminds me of how vital tourism is to our province. I'm glad to see the mantra of being open for business extends to our tourism partners as well. Can the Minister elaborate on how our government for the people supports tourism and the government supports tourism and tourism and the government supports the defence that bring people from all over the world to our great province of Ontario. The question under our government, the tourism industry will grow and we're going to rely on experts, tourism operators to help us do that. Government can't create jobs on our own but we can create conditions that make it easier for businesses and business taxes and it's why we will cut red tape for businesses. We also provide support for festivals and events through programs like Festival Ontario or the Ontario Trillium Grants. Our ministry and tourism partners across Ontario share a collaborative approach that maximises resources and encourages strategic planning and investment to further grow tourism and jobs across Ontario. The $20 provincial investment results in almost $21 of visitor spending. We are going to ensure value for money in our tourism investments and ensure that Ontario is open for business. Next question, the member for University, Rosedale. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Can the Premier explain the question? Through you, Mr. Speaker, we had the longest consultation of her. When we crisscross the province and we talked to people about reducing the size of government, I came to Toronto and talked to people from Etobicoke to Scarborough to North York East York and downtown. I heard the same sentiment and the sentiment was this government is dysfunctional and it gets nothing done. We couldn't build transit in the last 20 years. We have a housing crisis. We have a crumpling infrastructure. That's what I heard when I talked to the people of Toronto. They're fed up with this function at City Hall. They want less politicians. Matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I never heard one person come up to me and say, Doug, we need more politicians. We want larger bureaucracy but I can tell you one, there was no consultation when they went. Thank you. Back to the Premier. New Democrats just received a Freedom of Information request from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. We asked the Ministry for records on the consultations for Bill 5 as well as instructions that were given after conducting a thorough search of the Ministry files, no records were located responsive to your request. No records were located responsive to your request. Speaker, can the Premier tell the House who he cut a back room deal with to rip up Toronto's wards in the middle of an election? Through you, Mr. Speaker, the people of Toronto do not want to see another four years of dysfunction, four years of not building transit, four years of raising taxes. That's what people are fed up with. People want to see transit built, infrastructure built and housing built and I can tell you it doesn't take 47 people to do that. It takes 25 Councillors to do that and you know who's going to be happier than anyone, Mr. Speaker? The Mayor's going to be happier than anyone because he's not going to have to work 47 people. They're going to get things done. As I've said over and over again, good governance is seven to nine people on a board. People want less politicians. They don't want more politicians in the next election. I'll be more than happy to run on less politicians and... next question. The member for Guelph. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Early this morning during debate on Bill 31, the Premier said that he wanted to reduce the power of government. But Bill 31 does exactly the opposite. It places an unprecedented amount of power in the government's hands. Invoking the notwithstanding clause is the right to suspend people's charter rights. So how can the Premier say he is reducing power when he is using the heavy hand of government power to suspend people's charter rights? Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker, there won't be any rights taken away. This can be very clear. A person in Toronto will be able to elect their elected councillor. Every single person in Toronto should be able to pick up the phone when they have an issue and call their councillor. And every councillor should go to their door and answer their request. My friends, I did it for four years and I took care of more than one ward. I took care of a dozen wards. Because you know I took care of a dozen wards? Because the existing community is not calling people back and through you, Mr. Speaker, I still take municipal calls every single day on transit, on housing, on infrastructure. Because the average constituent needs help. Thank you. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker, through you back to the Premier, invoking people to vote on the non-withstanding clause, the very definition of that is suspending people's charter rights. That is a huge big power grab. That's exactly why people like former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said I don't like the non-withstanding clause. It's exactly why former Progressive Conservatey Premier Bill Davis has condemned the Premier's use of the power to change the rules in the middle of an election campaign has never happened in Canadian history. Mr. Speaker, the legal costs are mounting. How many taxpayer dollars is the Premier prepared to waste on his scheme to interfere in local Toronto elections? Premier. Through you Mr. Speaker and to my friend and member from Guelph, we should start focusing on jobs. I'll have to tell you a quick story. We had a company come to us a company from China that wants to employ 400 people in window manufacture and guess what Mr. Speaker they wanted to go to Guelph but Guelph refused them. Who refuses 400 jobs? I just I don't understand it but I'm sure there's jurisdictions all around Ontario that wouldn't love a glass company they come to their riding come to Etobicoke, come to Scarborough come to any of our MPPs areas. Next question the member for Eglinton Lawrence. Thank you Speaker my question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing over the weekend our government was hard at work for the people moving forward with the Efficient Local Government Act. Our government is using every delay tactic that they can to save politicians jobs but we know Toronto needs an efficient and effective council that can make important decisions faster. In leading off the debate Minister you mentioned the number of former premiers who support us using the legal tools in the constitution like bill 31 has and we want to make sure that we don't waste in time for the upcoming municipal election. Can you tell us more about the Premier's support? Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Thanks Speaker and I want to thank the member for Eglinton Lawrence for that question. You are absolutely right three former premiers Christie Clark from British Columbia, Brad Wall from Saskatchewan and Jean Charest from Quebec have all come out with a new subsection 33 of the charter they were on a CBC panel show last week talking about it. Former Premier Clark stated and I quote I actually think it's a good thing for Canada because we are in a moment where Canadians are looking around and saying hey why can't anything get done? While Premier Ford has shown there is a way to find a way to get things done. Speaker Christie Clark is right. We are here today we were here at midnight to get things done and that's something that actually the City Council in Toronto can do once Bill 31 has passed so that's why we're here and I appreciate it. Supplementary Thank you for that answer Minister it's important for the people of Ontario to know that those former premiers who have had to make tough decisions themselves support what we're doing the angry NDP and their leader can continue to shout and personally insult our members as they do every day but that is not going to keep us from doing the jobs that we were elected to do. We talked every day during the campaign about reducing the size and cost of government and 2.3 million Ontarians gave us a mandate to do that. Minister explain why the efficient local government is a priority. Thanks again Speaker and through you to the member. Bill 31 is important for Torontonians because it's time to end the political gridlock and dysfunction at City Hall but it's bigger than that. When decisions are delayed by endless debate transit and infrastructure projects aren't being built. People and goods can't get to where they need to because the gridlock at City Hall creates gridlock on our roads. That hurts Ontario's economy which makes it everyone's concern. The opposition claims housing and transit are priorities for them and if that's true they support our legislation because we won't see shovels in the ground without a streamlined effective council that will make those projects happen. Thank you for the question. Thank you. Next question from the Niagara Centre. My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Ever since the Premier decided to disrupt local democracy in Toronto other municipalities have wondered if they're next. But the government can't keep its story straight. At AMO last month the Premier said he was only interested in Toronto but last week he said he was getting endless calls to cut Ottawa's council. The member for Napaean said the Premier didn't mean it but told the St. Catherine standard that the Premier may now be targeting Niagara Region and other regional councils. So Speaker to the Minister who should we believe? Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you Speaker and through you to the member I want to thank you for actually being able to place a question on the floor today without having to withdraw a derogatory comment. Every other question. The Premier was very clear at AMO our Premier made his comments very known. I made my comments very known. Listen our government at that conference we set a record with 548 consultation meetings with municipalities. Our government we want to hear from them about how we can make government work more effective and more efficient. Listen we were very very clear in our conversation with them. We wanted to make sure that they felt free to give us ideas about the regional government what worked and what didn't work. And we're going to continue to have that dialogue that was a great start at that AMO conference. But again I'm just a little concerned with this member and how he. Thank you. Thank you. Speaker the Premier didn't run on cutting Toronto City Council everyone knows it. During the election there was not a single word from any member of the government on their plans to metal in local democracy. Now we're getting conflicting information as to whether or not more municipalities will be subject to attacks like Toronto. Will the minister be honest with the people of Ontario and tell the house if the government will be cutting the size of City Council for other municipalities or regional governments yes or no. Minister. Speaker through you to the member read Bill 31 it deals with Toronto City Council read the Premier's speech at AMO. He was very clear about why and what this bill is about and what the previous Bill 5 was about. Yes we asked municipalities that they have ideas on how they can run better. And we receive lots of ideas. We see ideas on how we can reduce their regulatory burden. We had ideas on how we can speed up the development process so that we can actually get some affordable housing to market faster. We and our municipal partners and I want to take this opportunity to thank my two parliamentary assistants. Spots on how we can deliver those critical services better to our taxpayers. The member should read some of those speeches. Thank you. The member for Mississauga Centre. I was so proud to be here this morning with my colleagues to work hard to bring Ontario back on track. Earlier this morning the Honourable Minister of Finance delivered a rousing speech in which he encouraged all members to fill out the planning for prosperity online consultation survey. The Minister of Finance said bring the ideas to help return prosperity to Ontario. Don't fight these ideas. Join us. It is the responsibility of all of us in this House to be stewards of public finances and to ensure that we leave a stable foundation for future generations to build upon and not a legacy of debt like that of the former Government. Can the President of the Treasury Board ask the House what the Government is doing to ensure that Ontario continues to be prosperous now and into the future? President of the Treasury Board. Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member from Mississauga Centre for that very excellent question. I too appreciated the comments this morning about our planning for prosperity consultations. Friday is the last day for submissions so I encourage everyone regardless of party affiliation to submit their comments. Working closely with my friend the Minister of Finance and with the full support of the Premier I can assure this House that we are taking our responsibility for putting Ontario back on track seriously. Every action we take, every bill we make has as a goal the difficult task of getting our province back on track and repairing 15 years of financial... as for the planning for prosperity consultations, together we can work towards a stronger more prosperous Ontario. Mr. Speaker back to the President of the Treasury Board the former Government sold Ontario up the creek without a paddle through poor fiscal and program management they let the people of Ontario down. The NDP instead of opposing this recklessness voted with the Government 97% of the time the business of the previous Government as a result Ontario spends more on interest payments on the provincial debt than it does on the entire Ontario public service or on all of post secondary education and training quite simply we are robbing future generations on interest payments alone and saddling them with a devastating burden of debt. Can the President of the Treasury Board please advise this House what the Government is doing to get public spending back under control. President of the Treasury Board Thank you Mr. Speaker for another well informed question. Aside from the financial inquiry line by line audit of the public books and a discretionary spending freeze we also wanted to consult the people. That's why we launched the planning for prosperity consultation which closes this Friday I'm pleased to inform the House that the people continue to support ideas with almost 15,000 individual ideas submitted so far some Mr. Speaker I suspect from the other side of the House the people of Ontario have called for a government that listens and we have answered that call. To all those people out there struggling to make ends meet to all the business owners who are suffering to all the families that have expenses ever climbing I say this we are listening and help is on the way start the clock. Next question member for Kitchener Centre Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Speaker does the minister believe racism exists in Ontario and if so does the minister believe addressing racism in all of its forms is a lower priority than forcing through Bill 31 Mr. Speaker thank you for that question. First of all we've made it very clear that there is no place in the province of Ontario for racism. We consider ourselves to be an inclusive province and we respect everyone. I want to assure the House as well that the anti-racism directorate is continuing to fulfill its mandate on a whole of government approach to address both systemic racism by implementing a strategic plan we will continue to work as a ministry and through the directorate to ensure that racism is not something that continues in the province or is in the province of Ontario. Thank you to the minister I'm just a little concerned about the actual actions. One of the very first things this conservative government did was quietly collapse the anti-racism directorates downgrade its minister to a part-time minister and disband its subcommittees. The anti-racism directorate played a crucial role in fighting back against racism in Ontario and unfortunately it seems that this is not a priority for the minister. In fact it is so low on the list that we're using our time and resources to debate a bill that violates Ontario's rights and freedoms rather than tackling urgent life and death issues like racism so again why is forcing through the premier's charter bashing Bill 31 more of an urgent priority for the minister than taking action against racism in Ontario. Minister and thank you for that question I assure you from the day I took over this portfolio when I started working I have been working diligently in every aspect of the portfolio from policing to corrections to the anti-racism directorate and I will continue to work and to bring forward the issues that relate to this portfolio we are working on a whole of government approach as I mentioned we are implementing an anti-racism data standard and we are collecting and analyzing reliable and usable data that will help the government that will help the government identify any systemic barriers across sectors and help make evidence based decisions to shape policies, programs and services ultimately improving how the people of Ontario are served thank you very much next question the member for Sault Ste. Marie thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade our government for the people was elected on the promise of making Ontario open for business to create and protect jobs and we are committed to sending that message to the world the private sector has made it clear that the government will not be able to implement any of the federal policies it has become too difficult to open and to operate a business in Ontario could the Minister please inform the legislature of his recent efforts to consult with Ontario businesses on reducing red tape good question I thank the Honourable colleague for the question I just want to report to the house in Barrie, Simcoe, Toronto and Newmarket and PA Parcell also went on to chair round tables in Peterborough, Richmond Hill Durham and Ottawa these round tables mark the beginning of our province-wide consultations to hear from business owners the ones on the front line who feel the impact of excessive regulations red tape and liberal mismanagement of the past throughout the campaign and in our consultations we've heard there's a lot that can be done to streamline regulations without compromising health or safety for example we heard from one business owner who has moved his business from Ontario manufacturing business to the US saying it was like going from a torture chamber to a candy store supplementary question thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the minister for his response it is reassuring to hear that our government for the people is committed wholeheartedly and is open for business again too many Ontario employers have left or they are threatening to leave our province because of the policies of the previous liberal government this was a government who imposed unnecessary costs on businesses and stifled growth business resources should be spent on improving and innovating not on clearing regulatory hurdles could the minister please further explain the necessity to act boldly to ensure that Ontario is once again the economic engine of Canada Minister to my colleague for the question certainly the time for correcting Ontario's economic direction is now the number of regulations in Ontario has grown to over 380,000 regulations Mr. Speaker regulatory burdens unheard of and anywhere else in the western world 380,000 British Columbia by comparison has just over 200,000 BC is a terrible place to live work and raise a family Speaker we want to be the leader in Canada once again and the leader in the world and we want to take the guest work in grey areas for our businesses away by simplifying the regulatory process we will cut taxes as the premier says reduce red tape and let the world know that Ontario is open for business Mr. Speaker we can do it we will do it and I encourage all members to get out there hold your own red tape roundtables and you'll see how it works thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of labour last week the minister penned an op-ed boasting of a government's plan to freeze the minimum wage at $14 an hour or remove $2,000 a year out of the hands of the lowest wage workers in the province does the minister believe that violating the rights and freedoms of Ontarians by forcing through bill 31 is more important than listening Ontario's workers and securing a fair living wage in better conditions minister of labour well thank you Mr. Speaker and thank the member opposite for the question yes our government made a commitment to keep the minimum wage at $14 an hour I and my caucus members believe in good paying jobs an opportunity for all Ontarians so raising the minimum wage did not do what it was supposed to do on January 1st 2018 Ontario's minimum wage for most workers jumped from $1160 to $14 an hour the sudden 20% increase in the minimum wage hasn't helped our economy an additional increase to $15 will not help it either since the rise of the minimum wage last year Ontario has lost tens of thousands of jobs in August Ontario lost over 80,000 jobs our largest monthly job loss in a decade every one of those jobs was part time so we need to give employers time to adjust to the new minimum wage which is why we promised to keep the minimum wage at $14 an hour back to the minister we could be here to take action on increasing minimum wage or creating better working conditions for Ontario's workers and instead we're here once again using our time and resources to be in a bill that violates Ontario's rights and freedoms Speaker why is focusing on Toronto City Council a more urgent priority for the minister than taking action on labour issues for workers across the province Minister Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing I want to thank the member for the question again why did we recall the legislature on Saturday why did we meet from midnight to 7am this morning because we are committed to making an efficient and effective council at Toronto City Hall we want those priorities during that election we talked to people every day about reducing the size and cost of government and Ontarians let us know that they wanted a government that gets things done that's what we're doing here speaker there's very important priorities and perhaps the NDP don't share the same priorities that we have I believe that it will be better for decision making any border having government that respects taxpayers' dollars is a good thing that's what Ontarians sent us and that's why we're here on this side of the house again the NDP have a bit of a challenge when it comes to next question member for Durham Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of status of women in September 2018 where members of the NDP and other members of civil society continue to ask questions like why our Attorney General is not taking her father's advice and why she's somehow silent and submissive in our PC pockets in fact we have a Toronto City councillor tweeting out hey Brian call your daughter can the minister of status of women please tell us why this type of rhetoric is so unacceptable in 2018 I'd like to thank the member from Durham Speaker for that very important question as somebody who just this past year won the Equal Voice National Award for advancing women in politics with our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau I have not been more disappointed in the discourse against my colleague my seatmate my friend our Attorney General in the last two weeks from the left wing politicians she was condemned effectively for not taking her husband's last name well I haven't either Speaker and not once in 13 years has my last name become an article in the Toronto Star but hers was I thought that went the way of the dodo bird after Maureen McTeer didn't take Joe Clark's last name but let me also be clear not one member of this assembly whose father was a previous politician whether it's a member from or the Prime Minister thank you start the clock supplement your question Mr. Speaker through you I think the minister for her important answer we have an Attorney General who is a talented well educated lawyer Mr. Speaker we need to act in a way in this place that is respectful of women and their accomplishments so many young women are looking to us looking to us as an example can the minister tell us why we must condemn this divisive language and stand behind the strong women who are participating Government House come to order Mr. Speaker thank you very much for the opportunity to respond to that very important question many of us in this chamber have fought our entire careers to make sure women are equal in the workplace and women are part of our political discourse and what I have said have shown up to target my colleague rather than the member of municipal affairs is shameful it's disgraceful and she'll not be part of it with my colleagues in municipal affairs and housing minister I actually asked him if he felt she was being targeted as well and he agreed as does Attorney General she's strong she's competent she's effective and she's effective Thank you Mr. Speaker I'd like to direct my question I'd like to direct my question towards the minister for municipal affairs and housing Toronto is in the midst of a housing crisis which should by all accounts be at the top of this government's list of priorities but shamefully the minister and this government do not agree we have never seen a housing crisis in Toronto the way that we have now the wait list for Toronto community housing is more than 10 years and in the case of my own family my mom waited on that list for 15 years why does this minister believe that forcing through legislation that violates my constituents rights to freedoms is a higher priority than taking action on the absolutely deplorable housing crisis that we are facing in Toronto and all across Ontario Minister of municipal affairs and housing thank you through you I want to thank the member for the question speaker housing is a very important issue in this city I believe very strongly that one of the best ways we can help tackle that problem is to have a streamlined council that on October 22nd can help work with our government on making those important decisions I've said a lot of times our feeling that we need more supply we need to get housing the approvals process we need to work with our municipal partners our service managers our indigenous program and administrators to see if we can get more supply faster into the market that was one of my key messages at the association of municipalities of Ontario conference I spoke to Mayor Tory about the very fact I think the very first day that I became minister I want to continue to work with those municipalities on our program partners to get that done and again, back to the minister the government has not called us here to discuss a solution on the housing crisis the government is not committing funding for social housing repairs or to build the 65,000 units of affordable housing that this province desperately needs instead we are here to fight tooth and nail for the preservation of our charter of rights and freedoms Speaker, this is unacceptable and I can't express how disappointed I am with this government and its inaction on housing as a whole Why is this minister ignoring Toronto's housing crisis in favour of sampling on the rights and freedoms of the residents of not only Toronto, but all of Ontario Thank you Speaker, with the October 22nd election fast approaching we have to move quickly that's why we recalled the legislature that's why we've debated bill 31 for over six and a half hours this morning we need to move this piece of legislation forward so that we can work with the new council, the streamline council on important issues I would hope that the member would understand how important it is to have that council in place and time is of the essence we need to move this bill forward to the legislature process yes, we had a bill, bill 5 that was passed unfortunately that decision which we're appealing and which we hope to have a stay is how we're dealing with the bill 5 situation but again, we have a responsibility to the people of Toronto to have a council that shows important decisions on housing or transit and infrastructure that's exactly what we were elected to do and that's exactly what we're dealing with thank you for being no deferred votes this house is in is it a point of order? I have a point of order just a second, I'm going to clarify something the speaker can't read anybody's mind so if you have a point of order I need you to stand up and audibly and loudly say point of order I gather the member has a point of order I recognize the member for Guelph on a point of order thank you Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that I just want to be clear, the city of Guelph did not say no to the glass plant it was actually Guelph it was Guelph Aramosa Township which is in another riding that's held by thank you, yeah it is not a point of order perhaps a point of information once again this house is in recess it's not a point of order