 It is now time for question period the member from the peon Carlton My question is for the premier For weeks I have been requesting that you tell the rate pair my pairs how much they are paying on their electricity bills Because of the cancelled gas plants, and you keep refusing. I've been asking here in this chamber for two weeks Yet today Dwight Duncan the former deputy premier the former minister of energy the former Finance Minister told the Justice Committee these types of analysis would be done In fact, he said and I quote the quote government would routinely look at the impact aspect close quote For someone who has such a passion for open government He sure fail in spelling and actually practicing it Premier One of the most powerful colleagues that you have ever served with told this assembly through this committee You would have had that information at your disposal Why won't you adhere to open government and finally release how much individual very much mr. Speaker and I I haven't seen the The transcript from the committee this morning, and I know the government house leader or the minister of energy will want to speak to the specifics mr. Speaker, but I will just say that you know, I have said all along that Cabinet made decisions mr. Speaker government had had information that information has been available has been made available to the Committee tens of thousands of documents have been handed over to the committee mr. Speaker Questions have been answered we broaden the scope of the committee and I appeared before the committee mr. Speaker and that information has been made available and I Look forward to the supplementary Very much speaker and thank you for Premier for again Showing that you care not about open governments that you only care about photo ops, but I wish you knew how to spell government It's very important to the people and you have known the true cost or at least the true range of the canceled oakville plants Don't take my word for it Bronios the deputy minister of energy who said in December of 2011 you knew that the cost would exceed $700 million all the while you and your colleagues said it was only 33 to 40 million dollars You want to know why speaker they wanted to rely on the province of Ontario and the people within it the rate payers who pay The bills they wanted to rely on a distinction between tax payer and rate payer It's absolutely Despicable that she did this and I have other Beyond parliamentary you now know it cost 1.1 billion dollars. You know how much it costs on the rate payers Will you table that today? You see it, please Thank you Mr. Speaker I I Really believe that it is important that we have gone through this process when I came into this office I said that it was important to me that we open up the process that we make sure that the information was available the reason that the Justice Committee, Mr. Speaker has had the opportunity to hear from the witnesses and has Received the documentation mr. Speakers that we changed the process on this side of house and we opened up the process We asked I asked the auditor general to look at the Oakville situation, mr. Speaker So the information that has been made available has been made available because of our commitment to that openness Mr. Speaker and I said that you know the questions that were being asked by the opposition would be answered They have been answered. They have the information mr. Speaker That's as it should be and what is really important now is that we have a better process in place So that this will not happen again, and it would be great to have a report from the committee, mr. Speaker Much be again back to the premier there are pretzels that are less twisted than your account of this Open government you told this assembly on multiple occasions that as a cabinet minister You never discussed the cancelled Mississauga plant in a cabinet meeting But Dwight Duncan your colleague who sat in the chair right beside your current finance minister told our committee today That yes, it was actually discussed. He said that the Mississauga plant was discussed in cabinet Discussed in cabinet for a premier who likes to talk about conversations with the public You sure do have lots of things you like to keep from them, too Telling this house one thing when it is not true is contemptible speaker again the proof I'm gonna ask the member to withdraw and be careful of how she's worried Thanks withdrawn speaker again, which is it? We know you sat in a cabinet, and we know you signed the document You did so knowingly you did so knowing that there was going to be a significant cost to this You signed your name on the dotted line. Why did you do it? Minister the minister of the environment will come to order the The other members that are making the comment will allow me to do my job The member from the PN Carlton would withdraw Indicate to her that if it continues it's more than just simply once it's too many times And I will bypass her and ask her to withdraw. That's it Premier 19 Sir very mr. Speaker Yes, former finance minister Dwight Duncan was at committee Let's hear some of the other things that he said mr. Speaker That those decisions were made by the former finance minister the former premier and the former minister of energy Full stop. He also said mr. Premier Decision on cabinet document was made by former premier and former finance minister mr Speaker with respect to the rates the member would know when she received her briefing on how to be the energy critic That rates are set by the Ontario energy board in a very public and open way mr. Speaker, I want to know whether or not she's Investigated how the rates are set at the OEB in addition mr. Speaker There's a long-term energy plan which projects rate increases over 20 billion mr. Speaker the existing plan projects Increases at 3.5 percent over a 20-year period which is less than the previous governments 20-year period. Thank you Yesterday I asked the premier about the $770 million Bombardier contract that was signed under her watch as transportation minister She refused to answer any questions regarding that contract The contract committed the province through Metrolinx to purchase 182 LRT vehicles for four Projects in the city of Toronto that contract speaker also set out very specific delivery dates and Substantial penalties of those dates were not on her My question for the premier today is this Before she signed off on that The environment come to order Of the details of that contract Was she aware that it contains specific delivery dates and penalties and did she know that she was putting Millions of tax dollars at risk by signing off on that contract. Thank you Thank you very much mr. Speaker, and I know the minister of transportation has some specifics on this this issue And he will answer the supplementary, but I I want to just say mr. Speaker that I am Absolutely proud of the fact that we have got we have got vehicles being built by Bombardier in Thunder Bay Mr. Speaker to supply the transit bill that is happening across the GTA J Mr. Speaker I am very proud of the billions of dollars that we are investing in transit mr. Speaker to and you know Part of the reason that we are doing that is that we have to catch up on Transit building in this province because there were years of neglect mr. Speaker where there was no investment in transit Where congestion was allowed to increase mr. Speaker, and we know the economic toll that that has taken and takes every year So I'm proud of our record in terms of investing in transit We will continue to do that mr. Speaker and I appreciate that all of a sudden the party opposite is interested But it's a little bit late So the premier the premier is proud That LRT vehicles are being built in Thunder Bay that have nowhere to go This is not a good example with the premier's response of transparency and open government The current minister of transport proved yesterday that he knows nothing about this file It was the premier who signed off on the contract The cost of that contract because it was a sole-source contract speaker was inflated by more than two hundred million dollars And now because Metrolinx is stuck with those cars. Here's what they're doing They're forcing municipalities like the region of Waterloo to buy those cars Forcing them to bypass an open tendering process so they can offload those vehicles Onto the citizens question Waterloo region and others and so I'm asking the premier this question Will she table that contract so that we can see the full cost? Force the end of the question I was having difficulty hearing the member from Newmarket Aurora because someone on your own side was yelling too much Premier of transportation and infrastructure Thank you very much Mr. Speaker, I don't know what the member opposite is talking about Thank you. The member from Leeds Grandville will come to order. That's one Carry on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker You know, if you don't want to use a blackberry or email good old-fashioned telephone to Metrolinx works really well, Mr. Speaker There is no I don't know what the fantasy is he's constructing But there is the only payment that's been put out recently, Mr. Speaker was a 65 million dollar progress payment to Bombardier Mr. Speaker Metrolinx very astutely and very wisely has bundled all of our LRT purchases whether it's for the Kitchener Waterloo line or for the answer and very wisely uses the buying power of all these municipalities together To do progressive purchases of equipment. There is nothing wrong a matter of fact for getting significant savings And these contracts are working. Thank you Thank you final supplementary Well, the minister confirmed that he knows nothing about this file The reality is that a contract has been assigned There are penalty clauses for failing to take delivery on the specified date of delivery He can try to waffle on this as much as he wants the Premier wants transparency Why don't we start with this file first the Premier signed off on a sole-source contract that inflated the cost of those vehicles By more than 200 million dollars Second because there were no competitive bids They're now stuck with it and the project that they were intended for have not appeared And that's why they're stuck and so now one of those consequences is they're trying to offload those vehicles on Two municipalities like the region of Waterloo. They told the region of Waterloo They come to open tendering because they were forcing them to take these cars I want to ask the Premier this will she stop downloading her mistakes on to Minister thank you, mr. Speaker What what I said very carefully is I don't know what the members talking about because I can't find any evidence to I know you've done it, but I'm gonna ask the member with draw please And the member from Renfrew will come to order Minister Thank you. Thank you, mr. Speaker. So the way this works and quite frankly I have a good relationship with Ken ceiling and Rob Pritchard and Bruce McQuay who I speak to on a regular basis. No one has raised any concern about this So I don't know who's raising concerns of the member office, mr. Speaker We we use the purchasing power of large municipalities Which means that Toronto area and Mississauga have a lot of capacity about a lot of vehicles So we buy them and we buy them when we share them So we have agreements with Kitchener Waterloo. There are hundreds of vehicles being bought or as I said many times We're also buying subway technology the member from Berry would know recipient of those contracts because because the tunnels are there and yes, they get And with 15 projects the timing changes Thank you question the leader of the third party. Thank you speaker my questions for the Premier Ontarians paying the highest electricity bills in Canada have some serious questions about how their liberal government makes Decisions that hit their hydro bills. Can the Premier confirm today news reports that she attended a $10,000 plate fundraiser organized by private nuclear operator Bruce Power just days before the government made key decisions about Ontario's energy future Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker if the leader of the third party is asking whether I like as she and the leader of the Conservatives do if I fundraise yes, mr. Speaker. I attend fundraising events. I attend fundraising events with many many people and there is access across the political spectrum mr. Speaker and it's part of the it's part of the democratic process and one of the things that I Always say at fundraisers as I thank people for taking part in that part of the democratic process, mr. Speaker and the the fundraiser to which the leader of the third party Refers mr. Speaker was completely unrelated to a decision around new nuclear mr. Speaker Can the Premier tell us who attended and whether she discussed with any of the attendees the government's pending decision On nuclear The members on this side will come to order. Do you need to repeat? Thank you. Thanks, Speaker Can the Premier tell us who attended and whether she discussed with any of the attendees the government's pending decisions on nuclear power? Mr. Speaker the leader of the third party knows full well that all of the information about the Amounts and the people who have donated are those those pieces of information are posted once the checks have been Processed we brought in that process. Mr. Speaker. We made it mandatory for those For that information to be made available So mr. Speaker as the leader of the third party does and as the leader of the opposition does mr. Speaker We all take part in fundraising events. It's part of the process mr. Speaker It takes money to to make Political parties able to function mr. Speaker and that that applies to all parties And the conversations that happen at those fundraisers mr. Speaker are wide-ranging I think the Minister of Energy described rainstorming that happens at Events across the province mr. Speaker with a wide range of Organizations and individuals Speaker for nearly a decade the government ignored the evidence that new nuclear plants would be expensive and Unnecessary in fact the government plowed ahead and spent a hundred and eighty million dollars on Plans that were doomed speaker for years They could not be persuaded to see common sense speaker But now people see that private interests with a lot writing on this decision We're able to get access to the premier and lo and behold the liberals changed a policy that they Will the premier admit speaker that at the very least this doesn't look very good Well mr. Speaker Bruce power is donated to the NDP and to the PCs this year Mr. Speaker so because it is part of the political process But the fact is that planning in the energy sector is extremely important and the No, if she if she has looked at the energy plans that we have put in place mr. Speaker I don't know how closely she has looked at the changes in supply mr. Speaker I don't know if she I don't know if she Recognizes that it's very important to understand what the projections are as you make plans going forward The work that has been done in order to prepare for possible new build is work that will not go to waste mr. Speaker it's information that is needed that may be used in the future and we are being responsible Thank you responding to current situation mr. Speaker My next questions to the premier Ontario households and businesses are paying the highest electricity bills in the country And they're tired of paying for decisions that have more to do with the Liberal Party's interests than the public interest $1.1 billion for cancelled private power plants in Oakville, Mississauga $180 million on doomed nuclear plans $950 million of Nuclear refurb planning on contracts that they've signed without knowing what the final price tag is going to be for those plans Speaker and decisions being made behind closed doors. Does the premier think this is a good way to run an electricity system? So mr. Speaker I'm just some of the some of the things that we have done to stabilize the energy system in the province because if you Remember mr. Speaker when we came into office there was a fair degree of disarray in terms of energy in this province So we've invested in modernizing and rebuilding approximately 12,000 megawatts of new cleaner power for Ontario We don't any longer have an energy deficit. We don't need to worry about the constant threat of brownouts mr. Speaker we've invested over 10 billion dollars in improvements in hydro one systems including upgrades to over 7500 kilometers of power line the member from well never mind just Relax Mr. Speaker that transmission network is so important to the health of the energy system so that investment in a 7500 kilometers of power lines is critical to the stability of the system our green energy strategy has attracted 24 billion in private sector investment mr. Speaker and it's creating over 31,000 jobs Ontario has 2,700 clean tech firms employs 65,000 people in the clean tech sector mr. Speaker we have taken action on energy We have a much more stable system than when we came into office mr. Speaker That's what planning does for you and we will continue to act in that responsible manner Well, you know what speaker people accept the mistakes happen But when what they don't accept is making the same mistake over and over and over again The premier says wasting 1.1 billion dollars was a mistake But she's signing contracts that are putting Ontarians on the hook For almost a billion dollars, and she has no idea where the money stops speaker The premier says she'll be open and transparent But people see decisions being made behind closed doors that drive Electricity prices through the roof why hasn't the premier learned that people should come first Mr. Speaker expenditures to date on nuclear refurbishment Are for definition phase activities such as the establishment of the project organization scope finalization Engineering planning procurement and contracting the idea that this is secret and nobody knows about is a pile of bunk mr. Speaker expenditure Minister Minister The member from Eglinton Lawrence and the member from Hamilton East Stony Creek take it outside Speaker All of opgs expenditures related to nuclear refurbishment are reviewed by the Independent Ontario energy board as part of the race setting process. That's all public information Opg is taking significant steps to ensure refurbishment at Darlington is done, right? Including a staged approach to refurbishment We have selected an independent oversight advisor for the Darlington refurbishment project to an open competitive RFP process This advisor will provide regular updates on the progress of Darlington nuclear refurbishment to the ministry of energy This will include you speaker Thank you you seated, please Well, we know the premier has wasted one point one billion dollars on gas plant relocations We've been told that a hundred and eighty million dollars was wasted on plans for nuclear plants But no one knows what the real cost is because the premier is refusing to call in the auditor and The premier has signed contracts worth almost a billion dollars without any idea How high the final price tag will be in the future? Speaker, that's the past. That's the present and that's the future How can the premier say that she has learned anything at all, mr. Speaker? You know, I just wonder whether or not the leader of the third part is just being a little bit live about this issue Mr. Speaker yesterday she she referred to nuclear refurbishment as When you go out to buy a new car. Yeah, we're talking about a 15 billion dollar project and mr. Speaker You need a lot of due diligence and that due diligence is being done First of all all of the contracts to date have been subject to Ontario energy board The member from Hamilton East Tony Creek didn't get the message the first time you'll get it now And if you can tell I'm not in a happy place at this moment So if anyone wants to test you'll lose Mr. Speaker all of these costs have been subject to review by the public Independent Ontario energy board in addition mr. Speaker as I said we have an independent oversight advisor Who is providing regular reports on this we have to do environmental assessment? We have to do project consideration. We have to do procurement consideration. That's right on a 15 billion dollar project I define the third leader of the third party to suggest how you can go cold without the necessary Thank you We know for a fact minister that a fraction of the $235 million for the essential services budget is not the complete security budget We've heard security figures actually too plentiful to list here today Then one of your security staff has subsequently confirmed that the mystery budget has been well overblown So minister today, I want to know exactly what the budget is for all Pan Am related security costs And if they're included in the 1.4 billion dollar Pan Am budget Minister be open be transparent with the Ontario public Just the numbers not your roundabout spend not your generic talking points. Give me the goods Thank you much for the Thank you much for the question the speaker, you know recently we heard a lot of numbers from the opposition members you talk about the after this village, you know 700 million not allocated in the 1.4 billion the TO 2015 budget and he turned around he seems to be surprised that is not in there and Then a few days later. He will turn around and talk to the public that you know what I know that allocation That 700 million Was not in the 2015 budget for over two years and then give you another example here Because he talked about the security. He keeps saying the the Pan Am game security And then he'll turn around you know what that one billion dollar may not be a billion dollar. So speaker what we've been The member from Durham will come to order Supplementary thank you speaker. All right another game of ring around the rosy here I'm not sure if you don't know a minister or you just don't want me to know I'm trying to figure the part out perhaps the minister is too busy cooking the books on the Pan Am games to actually Remember will withdraw run the current the current security budget is shrouded in ministry and mystery and the transportation plan is a security risk adding 350 buses a thousand cars to the most congested routes in Toronto and indeed Canada to transport 7000 plus athletes is ridiculous minister at best and yet We don't have a plan and we don't have a budget for transportation either not one You're willing to share with us anyway minister your portfolios characterized by runaway spending and poor planning Minister, what is the exact number for the Pan Am security and the total transportation costs? These on your pan am books. Yes or no simple question Thank you speaker Thank you again for the question again the member talk about on numbers during general on board and those number he talked about They were wrong and the speaker the pan am game is is a big game is a complex game We're going to welcome 41 country to Ontario. We're going to attract 250,000 tourists to Toronto And Ontario speaker, you know it would generate 3.7 billion dollars to our economy speaker come 2015 Ontario will welcome the competitors They're called the coaches and answer which totaling about 10,000 people speaker is a complex thing The ministry is working very hard to come up with those numbers. Thank you. Thank you Thank you speaker my question is to the premier Whether it's Alfred apps the former president of the Liberal Party lobbying under the table or the premier Refusing to say whether well connected lobbyists From Alice Don Lobby to her or the premier participating in a hundred thousand dollar fundraiser I'm still standing but there's talking going on carry on Or the premier participating in a hundred thousand dollar fundraiser held by Bruce nuclear days before the government made a major decision Impacting the nuclear industry people are concerned about well connected liberal lobbyists getting special treatment My private members bill today will open up lobbying to greater transparency Does the premier agree that it's time to open up? And create more transparency Very much mr. Speaker, I'm very aware of the the honorable members Private members bill and I look forward to the debate this afternoon I'm also aware that the integrity commissioner who is also responsible for lobbyists an officer of this Legislature as herself talked about some changes to lobbyist registration. I as members are aware There were changes that were brought forward that did not proceed because of prerogation and right now We're studying that report and studying Potential changes to strengthen it We do have a good system here in the province of Ontario But certainly we're open to discussions of how it could be strengthened and as I say I look forward to the debate this afternoon Thank you supplementary. Thank you. My private members bill will bring greater transparency to lobbying in Ontario Well, other parties talk about openness only new Democrats are taking steps to make Yes, I registered my bill is are made public So Ontarians know who punishments for people who break the rules the premier says she believes it's time for more openness New Democrats are ready to deliver results. Will the premier follow the NDP's lead? You know Mr. Speaker, I I kind of think we've reached our limit here. I think on all sides of the house. We recognize The role the lobbyist play in the fact that we need oversight But mr. Speaker the holier than now attitude over there is a little bit rich because let me tell you mr Speaker about a wonderful event that happened on October 16th at the Royal Conservatory of Music. It was called the leaders gala. Yes, I will be attending the leaders gala We will celebrate the Ontario new Democrats at the leaders gala by purchasing the following sponsorship package My friends for only $9,500 I'm not getting attention so that I can quiet things down for others to interject and I suspect the I suspect you're getting the message that I'm not happy at this moment new question Remember from Oakville. Thank you speaker. My question this morning is to the Minister of Education Minister this week you introduced legislation that provides a clear role for government and labor negotiations In the education sector while continuing to respect the collective bargaining process I know our governments worked hard to rebuild the relationship with our partners in education And I'm pleased we're working towards a much better future together and that's going to continue to improve student success We all know that one way to avoid labor disruption is to ensure a process exists that encourages Collaborative and ongoing discussions that resolve common concerns Minister, would you share with this house this morning the process you took in developing this framework? How you engaged our partners in the education sector in the development of this important legislation? Thank you So much occasion. Thank you very much speaker and thank you to the member from Oakville for this important question Speaker when I was first appointed Minister of Education my first priority was to rebuild Relationships with our partners so we could move forward with a common purpose and improve student achievement The legislation that I introduced earlier this week will help the education sector move forward With a clear process and common understanding of collective bargaining in the education sector Speaker it's important to understand that this is made in Ontario Legislation, it's a unique Ontario approach to collective bargaining that was developed through extensive Consultations with our education partners both school boards and unions and iterations We listen to their feedback We use their input to draft a bill that reflects their respect and respects their interests. Thank you I look forward Supplementary Thank you speaker and thanks to the minister for that response I know it's important and we all I think agree that it's important to person students in all our communities And especially in my writing of Oakville to know we can maintain that positive start We've had to the in our schools this school year I understand and we'll all know that the current collective agreements that are in place are due to expire at the end of August 2014 that would mean that Negotiations for the next round of collective bargaining will begin in very early 2014 That's only a few months away speaker so speaker again through you to the minister Can the minister explain to this house why it's so critical for parents and students right across this province that this Legislation is passed and passed as quickly as possible. Thank you. Thank you minister Yes, thank you speaker and the member raises an excellent question. It's absolutely Essential to have the provisions of the school boards collective bargaining act in place before the next round of negotiations as the member pointed out almost every contract in the school board sector expires on August 2014 and we need this legislation passed so that we can move to go forward with a clear process That defines the role of the school board Associations the rule of the unions and federations and the role of the government at the central table and The role of unions and local school boards at the local tables We need this legislation and I hope that we can count on the members of all parties Every member in this house to make sure that we get this legislation passed so that we can move forward with good Labor relations with a good process in the next round of collective People have the perception government jobs pay a whole lot better than regular jobs We know they're right. It's in the research You know if you add up wages holidays sick days early retirement job security pensions Public servants come in 30% better off than their private sector counterparts counterparts who are paying the free These are the people who are paid 30% less of no pension It's not fair premier and you have allowed it to become so From what should be pay equity Premier will you support my comprehensive pay fairness bill this afternoon? Will you support transparency to shine the light on the question fairness to restore? Hey equity between the public and private sector employees Mr. Speaker I read with interest The members private members bill and as far as I can tell what he's interested in doing is establishing more bureaucracy at Queens Park in order to oversee a negotiation process The member from Bruce Gray Owen sound is warned who's next carry on Mr. Speaker a Labor relations environment which over the last number of years has seen a number of agreements between the government and The unions that are represented here at Queens Park that in fact have seen restrained across the board The member from Renfrew Nepesing Pembroke is warned carry on Mr. Speaker the government has concluded I'll give the examples to collective agreements with its two largest unions Opsu and Imapsio as well as the professional engineers government of Ontario an association of physicians and dentists and public service All four contracts that were negotiated the most recent ones include two-year wage freezes that will help the government fight the deficit Mr. Speaker on this side of the house. We're taking action not asking for more bureaucracy Well back to the premier sounds like a bit of a bit of a start but the research is in CD Howe Frontier Center for Public Policy the Fraser Institute Canadian Federation of Independent Business the Federal Treasury Board Government jobs the Minister of Energy is warned carry on Government jobs pay more higher perks higher pay higher pensions It's not fair and it's expensive Drummond says half the Ontario budget goes to public sector compensation Half of a hundred and twenty eight billion is sixty four a billion and they are being compensated at 30 percent above market rates 30 percent too much That equals 19 billion dollars a year. You're paying public servants 19 billion dollars over regular market labor rates Again, will you support transparency? Will you support public private pay equity described in my bill? Thank you member sit out And I don't need the member from Trent Jim timmons James Bay to tell me how to keep town. Thank you answer Mr. Speaker, I know that the members opposite don't like to read the budget and didn't read the budget But I will ask him to read to break that and read page 126 Agreements have been reached with bargaining The member from Holland and Norfolk is warned carry on Agreements have been reached with bargaining agents representing nearly 50,000 or over The member from Halton is warned Carry on We're over three-quarters of the Ontario Public Service employees The agreement reached with the MAPCO and the professional Crown employees of Ontario includes a two-year rage freeze and the restructuring of merit pay Short-term sickness benefits and time off for provisions which will result in cost avoidance of twenty four point six million dollars in 1213 and thirty point four million and thirteen fourteen the agreement reached with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Opsu includes a two-year wage and reduction the entry level goes on and on this agreement will avoid costs of 34.1 million in 2013 and 37.4 million in 2014. We're taking action. We don't need more bureaucracy. Thank you Good morning, Mr. Speaker my question this morning is to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines The Ontario government claims to be open for business and the mining companies and the economic benefits They will bring to this province But the reality is that this government has been sitting on the sidelines for years and failed to establish even the simplest of Mining development plans that involve communities first nations and companies alike Companies are told to drive the process of consultation without any government input or guideline a Process which is creating animosity with first nations and it is delaying development and jobs Will this government take action before companies and investment dollars start fleeing our province? Could not be more wrong and we are seeing on obviously some great opportunities moving forward with the mining sector I was just up in lack of days ill a couple of days ago When they commissioned a new mine site great consultation with the first nation there dull Bay first nation And we're seeing other examples of that all across the province. We put forward a modernized mining act that indeed Continue to to provide the clarity that industry was looking for but also updated So it was very much reflective of 21st century bank So that's why we have included in that considerable changes in how we can't consult with our Aboriginal communities and our Aboriginal leadership, so I'm a little startled by the question. I suspect that in the supplementary I may get some more details of work specific, but indeed 23 new mines opening up in the last Ten years, and we're going to continue to see positive opportunities in the mining sector here in the province of Ontario Incorrectly identified the member from Holden on an issue, and I apologize Carry on supplement. Thank you again, Mr. Speaker again to the minister I can say with confidence that challenges to northern development are happening all across the north and that Communities and businesses agree that the framework and the government guidance are just not there This is precisely why the NDP has been calling on the government to take a leadership role in creating a real Plan and engaging in real consultation that will benefit job creation in this province When will this government stop avoiding challenges and get to work creating a real plan for job creation in the mining sector? Mr. Speaker, I mean we we brought a 100-year-old piece of legislation Into the 21st century by introducing rules and structure that will improve and that have improved our exploration activities Are carried out in the province of Ontario. We are here in the process of a extraordinary consultation with Metabol first nations and and the province with negotiating The moving forward on the ring of fire development, which again is unprecedented It's historic which began with a meeting that the premier myself and the Aboriginal Affairs Minister had the fact is that we're working very Very closely with the mining sector looking forward to seeing them all joining us here next week So I certainly would invite my colleague to have some discussions with us about this We are going to continue to move forward. We've got great positive developments in the mining sector So we're going to continue to see it creating more jobs more opportunity for everybody in the province Thank you speaker my question is for the minister of research and innovation The auto area is home to many innovative companies These companies have been creating innovative product that help people across the province including Emma Rose Gibson from the auto area Emma legally blind fourth grade student is one of the first users of the east side I wear a pair of computerized glasses developed by the auto of a east side corporation Since may Emma has been wearing the glasses not only do they grant her a greater degree of mobility You're also helping her participate the new way in her classroom recently Emma said I went from just seeing nothing To seeing everything in my classroom the development of these east side computerized glasses made possible through financial support from our government I'm happy to see that our investments are helping people helping children in a very positive way Despite the investment in several research and development initiatives many after the question across Ontario of a hard time Turning their innovative ideas into innovative products. Mr. Speaker for you to the minister of research innovation What is our government doing to help entrepreneurs take their innovative ideas as a product? Thank you Research and innovation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the member from auto Orleans for that question Mr. Speaker our government recognizes the importance of providing support to innovative companies to try and compete in the global market Our investment accelerated fund for example, Mr. Speaker assists innovative and emerging companies To date the investment accelerated fund program has made investments in 68 promising Ontario companies which created 1100 jobs our Ontario demonstration funds, Mr. Speaker funds companies looking to commercialize new Technologies that have both commercial and environmental impacts to date the innovation demonstration fund Program has committed to 41 projects and expected to create over 4100 jobs Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to say that our investments helped many young and innovative companies up not only to compete in Ontario But around the world. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you supplementary. Thank you speaker I'm glad that our government has invested in the initiatives needed to help companies move their ideas to the expensive commercialization process MROs Gibson story illustrates how important it is to continue supporting innovative companies Develop their ideas into new products and services so that we can improve the quality of life for all Ontarians As the minister knows our government has consistently supported Ontario's strong health care system through strategic investments to ensure that the Needs of the residents are effectively looked after one of the ways this can be accomplished is through research and innovation in Life sciences and technology. We need to create the right conditions to allow our health and technology sectors make breakthroughs Advances that will increase the standard of care in Ontario. Mr. Speaker through you the minister of research and innovation What other initiatives is the government undertaking to foster innovation in the Ontario health care system? Thank you minister Thank you, Mr. Speaker again I want to thank the member from Ottawa or lean for that very important question, Mr Speaker our government recognizes that innovation will help our province to stay at the forefront of health research in the world We have invested for example, mr. Speaker 100 million dollars in Ontario brain Institute to support research in the field of brain diseases We have also invested 357 million dollars in the Ontario Institute for cancer research Which is one of the leading institutions in the world and we have committed mr. Speaker 1.3 billion dollars to support research in various fields in Ontario research institutions through the Ontario research fund Answer I am proud to say that our investments in health research has provided the better health care to Ontarians across the province Thank you new question My question is to the minister of training college universities And as you know as we mentioned the other day It's a small business week here in Ontario and to help celebrate small business week I introduced the known new tax for business act Though protect small business from being punished by your new Trades tax courtesy of the Ontario College of Trades and mr. Speaker the bill removes section 7 out of the College of Trades Act so the business business can't can't be taxed So minister will you support my bill to protect small businesses from the newest liberal tax that will kill jobs and hurt small Businesses here in our province I Don't think I could have been more clear when I answered this very same question earlier in the week We did not proclaim that section. We have no intentions of proclaiming that section So let's be very very clear here because I think the members trying to Ensure that are trying to allow businesses to think something other than what's going on here The fact is mr. Speaker businesses do not have to pay to to be involved with the College of Trades We would encourage them to do so. I'm a little concerned as I look at the members members bill He supports what we're doing on one part of the bill But is the member suggesting that businesses should not be involved in the skilled trades Is he suggesting that the businesses should not get involved with the College of Trades? I think that's a I think that's a pretty dangerous thing to want to suggest Businesses should be involved. They're an important part of the industry. It's everybody working together That's going to help us build a strong economy. Why would you want to divide them all up? Thank you? Well, mr. Speaker, I want the business involved. I don't want them taxed I can I can tell you firsthand the small businesses value certainty and transparency and you're talking about transparency all week I'm if you and if you never intend to proclaim section seven, then why do you have it? Let's remove it That's what I'm asking you today unless you plan to use the small businesses to pay for your $1 billion gas plant scandal Or other runaway spending and all the messes you've made over there. You should do the right thing Section seven is a huge tax hike glooming over the small businesses here in our provinces But can you do something minister pass my bill and show small businesses that they never will have to pay the College of Business Tax will you stand with small businesses and support that the new Tax for Business Act bill 118 my new private members bill Thank you You see the place. Thank you Minister on this week, mr. Speaker. We did not proclaim section seven. We don't have it We do not have any intentions of proclaiming section seven We will not be looking to businesses to pay fees unless they choose to do so mr. Speaker If the member really cared about small business, he would have he would have supported our employer health tax exemption Which is providing benefit to 60,000 small businesses across this province if you really care about small businesses You would have supported that you didn't so mr. Speaker I think what we're seeing here is a bunch of propaganda a bunch of rhetoric at the end of the day Mr. Speaker we got to get every sector in this province working together to create jobs and build a small economy We want businesses to work with the College of Trade to be involved with the When I say thank you, that's it and when I stand you sit New question, please leader of the third party. Thank you speaker my questions for the premier This government ruined a lot of Thanksgiving dinners in Niagara when it held a Friday before the long weekend press conference To cut the Ford Erie racetrack out from the provinces horse racing plans Well, the premier took political cover behind one of her many advisory panels Families were suddenly faced with agonizing choices keep feeding horses that may never race again at Ford Erie racetrack Or try to sell the horses try to sell the farm and leave their homes and livelihoods behind After gutting the local economy the premier promised a different kind of future for Ford Erie Can she kindly tell the people who actually live there what she has in mind? Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker. Well, what I have said repeatedly is that Ford Erie can work with the Ontario Racing Commission and with the OLG mr. Speaker to determine what that future would look like and in fact Mr. Speaker, I hope that happens. I hope that there can be There can be an arrangement that is put in place so that Ford Erie can continue to race as as there was a season this year Mr. Speaker so my hope is that they will they will do that, you know What our horse racing transition panel has done mr. Speaker is it's put in place a plan that we are implementing that will put $400 million over five years to put in place a sustainable horse racing industry in the province That did not exist mr. Speaker. We did not have a sustainable plan The Sarp plan was not sustainable over the long term mr. Speaker. It wasn't transparent It wasn't open and Elmer Buchanan and John Snowblen and John Wilkinson did us a huge service By putting in place a plan that we can now invest in over the next five years Speaker nobody in Ford Erie has any idea what festival racing even means and frankly Speaker neither does the government this week in question period the premier washed your hands of the people who make a living for Racing at the Ford Erie track. She told them to sort out their consolation prize with the olg But the olg isn't talking to them either speaker time is running out and livelihoods are hanging in the balance Why is this government so determined to make sure that there is no? 117th racing season at Ford Erie racetrack Minister of rural affairs well, thank you very much mr. Speaker and we do we do have a good plan to place a plan That's been developed by John Snowblen Albert Buchanan and John Wilkinson and let me tell you mr. Speaker our plan is galloping forward DDP plan is still the starting gate My question is to the minister of consumer services Minister in my community of Scarborough Rouge River I've always heard cases of constituents being scammed when buying cars from private sellers With a large population of new Canadians in the riding and the dependency on cars to get around I've been attempted to inform my constituents on what to be aware of when buying cars from private sellers. I Have informed my constituents to be aware of unlicensed dealers who pose as private sellers In the past they have usually targeted buyers of inexpensive reliable and economic vehicles However, I'm now aware of cases where these private sellers are dealing in newer and luxury models There are also now more and more moving to online methods of selling high-end cars and pickup trucks You know speaker is the minister aware of Thank you Minister consumer services You speaker and I'd like to thank the member very much the member from Scarborough Rouge River for raising Very important question. He's absolutely right There's a new and growing trend of online targeting of luxury brand cars by private sellers The Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council also known as on book which falls into the auspices of my ministry is Regulating vehicle sales and they have found in a recent investigation this trend that the member speaks of and Many of these private sellers may try to represent themselves as legitimate dealers when in fact they're not and they also Misrepresent the vehicles. They're actually selling these vehicles are often insurance write-offs Accident damage vehicles or they have the odometer is tampered with mr. Speaker Similar to most things consumers are looking online for vehicle sales and research by the used car dealer Association found that one-third of your sales online Thank you supplementary Thank You mr. Speaker Minister that is a higher number of online ads by these private sellers than I would have taught Mr. Speaker, I consider myself a smart consumer But even I was surprised by the details of some of the ads found online on the internet It was very it was easy to see how a strongly motivated buyer Can drop their guard and go after the car or truck that they've always wanted to own Mr. Speaker some buyers are even putting down payments without physically having seen the vehicle to ensure that they would get the Vehicle at the discounted price However, mr. Speaker my concern especially with online ads is that if the consumer was scammed It is difficult to verify and catch the people behind them as these crimes are becoming borderless and faceless Minister, how can I help ensure my constituents are not being taken for a ride? Thank you Minister Thank you. Well, of course, I think the member from Scarborough Rouge Rivers a very informed constituent as well This forward the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act does maintain a fair and transparent marketplace by requiring dealers That they provide all in price advertising mandatory full disclosure vehicle history and cancellation rights This act administered by on Vic along with the compensation fund to support consumers in certain situations is in place Speaker, however, it's very important that consumers do understand that they are only protected by Ontario's consumer protection laws when they buy from an on Vic registered dealer If they buy privately speaker and something happens on Vic is unable to intervene I encourage all consumers to be careful of making a vehicle purchase decision and buy from a registered dealer Minister last month be called on your government to produce a real plan for jobs in the economy But what did we get a reckless proposal job to take half a billion dollars out of Ontario's Manufacturing sector job. This isn't a credible jobs plan. This is the same risky economic theory You used for the Green Energy Act and look what happened the liberal government killed Thousands of manufacturing jobs just to subsidize a few green jobs Minister, how can Ontarians take you seriously when your government's only job plan is to saddle the Manufacturing sector with a half a billion dollars in new costs. That's a good question Well once again, mr. Speaker I want to express sympathy with the member because when his leader had the shuffle was moving people around front seats back seats and and and to new portfolios I thought that he would request not to be the Critic for environment because all the questions you asked are anti environment I I really am sympathetic because I think in his heart of hearts the member probably is an environmentalist He's compelled to ask anti environment questions He obviously doesn't want the producers of these materials to pay the cost He wants the taxpayers of this province And I think it is up to those who produce the waste in the first place to assume the cost and not the taxpayers of this Providence, sir, I will stand up for Thank you, mr. Speaker, I wish to correct my record during question period I indicated that the government had in fact introduced lobbyist legislation The fact is that we stayed at our intention publicly to introduce that legislation was not introduced The minister of northern development in minds Thanks, mr. Speaker I would like to correct the record as well in my response to the member for I'll go in that too and I indicated that Ontario's opened up 23 new minds in the last 10 years the fact is mr. Speaker we've opened up 24 Mr. Speaker I'd like to correct the record when I spoke of 15 billion dollars cost I was referring to the cost of new nuclear not refurbishment Pursuant the standing order 38 a the member from Simcoe North has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his questions given by the Minister of training colleges concerning the College of Traits Amendment Act This matter will be debated next Tuesday at 6 p.m. There are no deferred votes This house stands adjourned until recess until 1 p.m. This afternoon