 It is now time for Question Period, the leader of Her Majesty's Royal Office. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. I didn't think this government could get more callous. But the next thing you know, the member from Mississauga Streetsville called the police on Melanie Palapong, the mother of a six-year-old boy with autism. Melanie just wanted to be heard, but instead her own MPP sent the police to her door. It's one thing to refuse and cancel meetings. It's another thing to block the parents of a child with autism on Twitter. But what I can't believe is that it had the nerve to call the police on a constituent. And regardless of that apology, that action is completely unacceptable. Melanie simply wanted a few answers. Specifically, she wanted to ask, who are you to decide my child's future? Who are you to decide he is not worthy of a better life? So Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier is, who is this Premier to decide that this six-year-old exager is not worthy of a better life? Mr. Speaker, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I'm tempted to say, and now for something completely different. Let me just begin by reminding the member that the member has apologized to Ms. Palapong. I know that he's profoundly sorry for the circumstances that resulted and the anxiety that was caused to her and her family. We know how important it is to listen to constituents on all matters, Mr. Speaker. And our caucus members have been meeting the families from across Ontario to explain how the new autism program will work to make sure that they are getting the information that they need, Mr. Speaker, because that is a concern to us if families are not getting the information that they need in terms of transition because, Mr. Speaker, at the root of the new autism program is the intent and the directive to make sure that every child in this province who has autism gets the service and the intensity of service that they need, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, back to the Premier. This is not an issue to make jokes about. This is a heartbreaking real-life story of the callousness of this Liberal government. You know, I met with Melanie and her six-year-old son, Xavier. She is an amazing mother with an equally amazing son. And I'm happy that the member finally belatedly apologized, but it was only after this government got embarrassed on the front pages of the newspapers. It wasn't right. It got exposed. And that's why the apology finally happened. It's not just kicking off a child with autism from the waiting list that we're seeing this government undertake. It's cutting care at the province's children's hospitals. Last year, the Liberals cut 42 jobs at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The member from Beaches East York, I would like to do my job, please. The member from Beaches East York will withdraw. Withdraw, Speaker. That's not going to help. Please finish. Mr. Speaker, this is a pattern. If it's an example of the 42 jobs at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, sick kids in Toronto has been forced to operate at over 100% capacity. Mr. Speaker, how much longer will the Liberals turn their backs on the most vulnerable children in Ontario? Thank you, Premier. So Mr. Speaker, increasing funding to healthcare each and every year, Mr. Speaker. We are putting into a new autism program $330 million, Mr. Speaker, in order to provide a better program. That's $333 million more than is already in the system, Mr. Speaker. The point of doing that is to make sure that we provide programming for kids who are right now sitting on a waiting list and not getting any service, Mr. Speaker. That status quo is unconscionable. We have to make sure that we provide the service that those kids need. Mr. Speaker, the investments that we have made in healthcare, the investments that we're making in autism are about providing the services that children, seniors, families across this province need, Mr. Speaker. That's the intention of the investments that we're making, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. I'll speak to you in the supplementary. Mr. Speaker, back to the Premier. Well, the Premier says investments in healthcare. Her investments mean cutting 42 staff at CHEO. Her investments mean kicking 2,200 kids off the list for desperately needed IVI. Her investments mean you have sick kids at over capacity. Her investments are the diminishment of healthcare in Ontario. Now, the Premier says that their investments in autism is the right course, is evidence-based. But let me point out what the Ottawa citizen wrote. In January of 2014, a report from the Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Expert Committee stated that the therapy should not be cut for children over the age of 5. There is no evidence to back up your approach. There is no evidence to back up your cuts. So, Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier is, where exactly is the evidence found to defend taking IVI from kids over 5? Thank you. Mr. Speaker. You see the case here? Very clear. Premier. Therapy is not being cut to children over 5. The point is that there are children sitting. Finish please, Premier. Well, Mr. Speaker, the fact is that this program is about getting more service to more kids. Mr. Speaker, 16,000 more kids getting service. Kids who are getting service now are making sure that they go through a transition. You know, I've met with the organizations of parents, Mr. Speaker, who are concerned about this. I've listened to them. The minister and I have talked about the reality that perhaps we need to look at direct funding as part of the model. That's something that parents have brought forward to us. Well, you know, the member opposite heckles perhaps. The fact is $8,000 of transition. That is direct funding, Mr. Speaker. And what we're looking at, is there a better way to help those families make the transition? We're working hard on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker, to make sure the kids get service. The opposition can choose to negate that, Mr. Speaker. The reality is more kids need... Thank you. Start the clock. New question, later the opposition. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. It's clear that this government is cutting healthcare across the board. They slashed $815 million from physicians for patient care. Not to mention the 1,400 nurses cut in Ontario in the last year. Clinics closing all across the province. But what most people don't see today is the ridiculous and the unacceptable overcrowding in Ontario's hospitals. When I first saw it in Brampton, I couldn't believe that hospital beds were littered in the hallway. That can't happen in Ontario. So what fantasy world is this government living in when they say they are investing in healthcare? Instead of getting beds out of the hallway, this government has the nerve to run self-congratulatory radio ads. But what a great job they're doing in healthcare. So Mr. Speaker, my question is, someone has to take responsibility. Will the Premier do the right thing and make sure her Minister of Health takes responsibility for the chaos that he has created? Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care is going to want to comment on the supplementaries, but Mr. Speaker, let me just talk about what's happening as a result of the investments that we are making and have made in healthcare, including the billion dollars more that was in this budget that the opposition voted against. 94% of Ontarians have access to family healthcare providers. The independent wait-time alliance has made a statement that we've gone from the worst to first for reducing wait times. That's in hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery, cardiac care, radiation oncology, MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds. The Fraser Institute, let me just pause it. The Fraser Institute, you know, great friends of the member opposite. The 2015 Wait-In-Your-Chern report revealed that Ontario has the second-shortest overall wait times in Canada, Mr. Speaker. The results speak for themselves. They are making a difference, Mr. Speaker. We will continue to make those investments and improve healthcare in Ontario. Member from Dufferin, Caledon will come to order. The supplementary. Mr. Speaker, back to the Premier, and I realize the government's talking points is everything is fine, but I would love to have the Premier name a single patient, a single nurse, a single physician in the province of Ontario that isn't fed up with this government's cuts. Now, let me share with you an article from the Toronto Sun. I think Christina Blizzard summed it up very eloquently. When she said, I call the Toronto Sun, this government is paying a hacksaw to healthcare in Ontario. Come to order. Please. And Mr. Speaker, if the government members want to heckle about the article on their hacksaw approach to healthcare, why don't they listen to this quote from Ontario's health coalition, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor said, there is no tracking of the healthcare cuts by the health ministry. There is no planning for the cuts and no attempt to get things right. She said there is no actual plan for hospitals. Mr. Speaker, since it is now clear the Minister of Health isn't doing his job, isn't planning. Isn't planning for healthcare in the province. Mr. Speaker, given the fact there's going to be a county council leader, come to order. Well to bring your show, the Minister of Health, the door. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, of course I'm kind of happy that she just handed that, rather than answer it herself that she handed that question to me. The leader of the official opposition knows that, I'm sure he's seen the figures, that the vast majority of the hospitals across this province function and operate within less than 100% occupancy. In fact, the figures that are most, that are currently reflected are the Q4 figures, which represent a period in time, those January, February, March months, where typically because of flu season and other factors, we do often see an incremental increase. But even with that, only 11% of the hospitals across the province indicated occupancy pressures. But when you look at the trend, Mr. Speaker, even compared to 2013, or rather between 2014 and 2015, the number of hospital sites that have reported a point in time, occupancy rate greater than 100%, has decreased, Mr. Speaker, by 32% over that period of time. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, back to the Premier, the Liberals' failure to properly fund healthcare is leading to hospitals bursting at the seams. Across the province, hospitals are overcapacity because of the government's cuts. Sick kids overcapacity. London Health Services Centre overcapacity. Rouge Valley Health System in Ajax and Pickering overcapacity. The Juravansky Hospital and Cancer Care Centre in Hamilton overcapacity. The Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Brentford General Hospital, Ottawa Civic and General Hospitals all overcapacity. So, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health has this... Minister of Agriculture. This crisis has become... Minister of Agriculture, come to order. Sorry, please. Mr. Speaker, this is a crisis created by the Minister of Health. This is because of incompetent leadership on healthcare. So, Mr. Speaker, my question is this. Will the Premier answer directly? Will she do a favour to Ontario's... Questions. ...and fire this Minister of Health? Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And Mr. Speaker, in our budget, we've allocated an additional $345 million specifically to the hospital environment. But if you look back a couple of years since 2013, we've also dramatically increased the number of acute care beds in Ontario. It's increased by approximately 5% of the total number of beds to almost 20,000 beds now in the province, an increase of nearly 1,000 beds in that time period alone. But other important indicators as well, we have seen an increase because of population increase in the number of ER visits, Mr. Speaker, but we've seen that... Member from Bruce Gretel own sound. ...8 times have either stayed the same or, in fact, they've improved, Mr. Speaker. So, those important outcomes that patients are and should be looking to in terms of the quality of care that they receive... Answer. ...re-admission rates which are staying the same or declining and our ability to accommodate people in ERs, we are seeing and continuing to see progress in those areas, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question to the Leader of the Third Party. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Documents obtained by New Democrats so that somewhere in Ontario there's an unnamed hospital that needs $287 million in repairs to address health and safety concerns, imminent breakdown, and cold compliance. What hospital is that? Deputy House Leader, second time. Premier. Minister of Health and long-term care. Minister of Health, long-term care. Well, Mr. Speaker, we acknowledge that we have more than 150 hospitals across this province. We're building new hospitals like the New Hospital in Oakville, the Humber River Hospital as well. They just had a groundbreaking ceremony, Mr. Speaker, in Orangeville for the new head... for the headwaters' improvements that are being made. But we recognize that going forward in two areas, maintenance and renovations and repairs, where we've increased in the most recent budget an additional $50 million a year to go towards that. But we're also investing, Mr. Speaker, $12 billion over the next decade to make the kinds of improvements that Ontarians across this province expect to see in their hospitals. We have hospitals that are literally months old. We have hospitals that are decades old. We continue to invest in both areas to make sure that they're able to maintain themselves properly. And we're building, renovating, expanding and rebuilding where necessary as well, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Next on the list of hospitals in dire need of repair is a hospital that needs $252 million in maintenance repair, Speaker. Which hospital is that? Thank you, Minister. Well, Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work that we're doing across the province in making sure that Ontarians have access to the highest quality of care. And we do that as close to home as possible. So the leader of the third party knows and certainly the opposition party as well some of the efforts that we've been making over the last year, including places like the Trenton Hospital to make sure that the services that those individuals rely on are provided in Leamington Hospital where there is a decision made quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, why the hospital itself to close the obstetrics ward, we weren't prepared to accept that as a government and we worked diligently and I worked with the member for representing Chatham Kent Essex as well to make sure that those birthing services, those obstetrical services were maintained. And in fact, I think he would probably agree with me that we've even been able to enhance the services that are provided there. And we've provided funding for three new obstetricians to work there in concert with midwives providing that holistic support. Final supplementary. Next on the list is a hospital that urgently needs $171 million, Speaker, in maintenance. I would just ask the Premier which hospital is that? Mr. Speaker, that's precisely why we committed to $12 billion over the next decade and we have a process in place. I mean, the leader of the third party might just want to randomly select hospitals and invest in them. We have a very rigorous process through the ministry together with Infrastructure Ontario where we will look at both maintenance and repairs but also those new builds that are required from time to time. What I don't understand, Mr. Speaker, if this is such an important issue to the third party, why they voted against our budget to allocate $50 million of money on renovations and $12 billion over 10 years for new builds, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New questions. Leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is for the Premier. Last December, the Auditor General said there was $2.7 billion needed for hospitals in order to bring them up to a good state of repair. Now documents obtained by new Democrats show that a deferred maintenance in Ontario's hospital actually exceeds $3.2 billion, Speaker, but the government refused to tell us which hospitals are in the worst shape. In fact, the government said that if they revealed the names of the hospitals, contractors could lose confidence that they would get paid. Why does the Premier letting hospitals fall into disrepair, Speaker? Well, Mr. Speaker, actually as the Minister of Health and long-term care has said, we recognize that there is a need for upgrades, for maintenance and repair, Mr. Speaker, which is why $12 billion over the next 10 years has been put in place to actually address those, Mr. Speaker. And, you know, there is a process in place whereby the condition of the facilities is made clear, Mr. Speaker. There's obviously an order in which those facilities have to be addressed, and that's what the $12 billion is for, Mr. Speaker. And I would have thought that the leader of the third party would think it was important to allocate that money because she understands that there is a need among hospitals. Can you support the budget? Well, Speaker, the Auditor General said that the funding wasn't keeping up. In fact, hospitals are having to dip into operating budgets just to cover their capital costs. And now we've learned that the backlog is even higher than what the Auditor General identified in her report. Ontario has 142 hospitals with over $3 billion in deferred maintenance. The government refuses to reveal which hospitals need the most repairs. And instead of planning ahead, the government has no idea how much more maintenance will be needed over the coming years. Health care is the government's silent crisis, Speaker. Failing to do urgent repairs will only make it worse. Will the Premier admit that there is, in fact, a silent crisis in health care here in the province of Australia? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, only the NDP can turn a positive in a negative. And I think the reason they're doing that is they're a little embarrassed that they didn't vote in favour of our budget. It allocated $1 billion in new money to the health care budget. But in addition to that, Mr. Speaker, $12 billion over the next 10 years. And we have $50 million on top of an existing $50 million a year for those important maintenance and renovations and repairs. But Mr. Speaker, it's not surprising that they're taking this position. They're the third party to have this sort of rhetoric. But I just need to remind the Ontario public that when they were in power, Mr. Speaker, they closed 24% of all acute care beds in this province. And they closed 13% of all the mental health beds in this province, reducing hospital funding in their last budget. Reducing health care funding in the budget before that, Mr. Speaker. That sounds like a lot of cuts to me. Final supplementary. Speaker, nurses are being fired at a rate of three per day. Hospital beds are being closed. Wank times are increasing. And the Liberals are letting hospitals crumble here in the province of Ontario. When people go to the hospital, they're being treated in the hallways, Speaker. There are labels on the hallways saying hallway room one, hallway room two, hallway room three. That's what people are dealing with when they go into a hospital here in Ontario in 2016, Speaker. How much worse does it have to get for the Premier to admit that there is a crisis in our health care system? Thank you. You see it, please? You see it, please? Thank you. Minister. Well, the only crisis, Mr. Speaker, would have come if that party had won the election because they committed to reducing the budget by $600 million, Mr. Speaker, saying... Minister. Well, that's what the member from Kitchener Waterloo said that $600 million would come from health care and education. She actually said that she felt she would go to health care first. But, Mr. Speaker, the truth is, if you listen to the Ontario College of Nurses, the 3,000 more nurses in this province last year, about 8,000 of them in the last several years, many of those in the hospital environment, I just said that we've increased since 2013 the number of hospital beds in the province, the acute care beds by more than 1,000. We have among, if not the shortest wait time in the entire country, the... Member from Hamilton, East Stony Creek, come to order. Carry on, please? Try as they might, Mr. Speaker. But they can't use rhetoric against facts. The facts demonstrate that we're continuing to matter, and we're seeing that progress, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. And good morning, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. North Bay Regional Health Centre has borne the brunt of the impact of this government's waste, mismanagement, and scandal. Over $50 million has been cut over the last three years, resulting in cuts to nursing, emergency, cleaning, cataract surgery, psychiatric care, and forensic units. Specifically, the Liberal Government has fired 350 full-time staff, including 100 nurses. They've cut 60 hospital beds at our five-year-old facility, a facility the community fundraised for. And now rumors are swirling that the hospital's cancer clinic will be closed by the end of the year. Speaker, can the Premier tell the people of Nipissing that our cancer clinic will not close? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I mean, rumor mongering like this is not helpful, and I'm sure it's creating anxiety in the community. So we have no plans to change the level and the quality and the location of cancer services at the new North Bay Regional Health Centre, by the way, Mr. Speaker, the funding that has increased since we came in power to that health centre by 126% or almost $100 million. We're seeing great results. I wish the member opposite would commend the hospital and the physicians for where we're seeing cataract surgery go down by 370 days. A decrease in the wait time of 87%, Mr. Speaker. The member opposite should champion their hard work. Well, I'll share your message with 100 nurses you fired back to the Premier. These are headlines announcing the Liberal... Come to work. Questions? These are the headlines announcing the Liberal government cuts all throughout the North. Health Sciences North lays off 102 employees and closes 64 beds. 28 beds close in Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital. St. Joseph's Care Group cuts 11 RPN jobs. Timmins and District Hospital cuts 38, followed by another heading. Timmins Hospital cuts 40 jobs. Timiskimming Hospital cuts 15 jobs, including 9 nurses. Sioux Area Hospital cuts 73 staff, followed by another heading. Sioux funding cut by 10 million, 35 positions cut. Speaker, this government's waste mismanagement and scandal have hurt Northern families. Will the Premier tell us today does she support these cuts at healthcare or will she shuffle out the Minister of Health? The member from Nipissing will come to order. Minister of Health. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can only imagine what would have happened if that party had been given the opportunity to cut 100,000 jobs. Member from Nipissing second time, Minister of Labor come to order. Minister finished, please. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In hospitals alone in Northern Ontario we recognize the need to improve and modernize infrastructure. That's why 23 new hospitals have been built or underway in the North and Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, Health Sciences North and Subbury, North Bay Regional Health Centre, Sioux Lookout Health Centre, Sioux Area Hospital, West Perry Sound Health Centre and Matawa General Hospital. We've increased our capital funding in the North by 54%, Mr. Speaker. We have seven community capital projects underway and $157 million for surgeries, Mr. Speaker. No question. Member from Canora Rainy River. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Today, groups supporting Grassy Narrows First Nation released an independent study commissioned by the First Nation System of the mercury that was dumped there 50 years ago is possible. Will the Premier commit today to an action plan to clean up the Wabagoon River so that future generations don't have to grow up poisoned and that the community of Grassy Narrows can heal? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. And I appreciate the question. I have not yet seen this report. I'm very interested to see the science on which it's based, Mr. Speaker. I have been to Grassy Narrows. We've established a working group to lead a discussion about what the solutions are, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that there has been testing that has been ongoing that the group will have a broad scope of inquiry but that there are complicated issues around the settling of the mercury, Mr. Speaker, in the water at Grassy Narrows. I don't know the, as I say, I don't know the source of the report where I understand there's some suggestion that there's still new mercury that is leaking. I don't know the source of that. I look forward to looking at the report, Mr. Speaker, but rest assured that we are very much engaged even before this report came on trying to figure out how to make sure that people in Grassy Narrows have clean water and a clean environment to talk to. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, members of Grassy Narrows First Nation will travel this week as they do every year the 1,700 kilometers to Queens Park to once again call on this government to do something to act on the contamination of their traditional fishing and hunting lands. During this time last year the Premier said, quote, scientists have said to us there are questions about how to actually do the cleanup because the sediment at the bottom can actually cause further damage, end quote. Yes Speaker, this needs to be done very carefully but here today a report written by scientists says that it is possible to clean up the river. In fact today the response from the ministry of the environment to this new report is word for word the same as the ministry comment from February. How is this possible? Truth and reconciliation Speaker, it means being honest with our relationships with our First Nations partners. Will the Premier commit today to the cleanup of the Wabgun River of the Mercury once and for all? It's an extremely important issue obviously because of the health of the people who live at grassy narrows. It's extremely important in terms of the economy of grassy narrows and I know the member opposite is aware of that. I haven't seen this particular report but Mr Speaker, as I said the working group that has been established will have to take this information into account and if there is a way Mr Speaker to clean up that river without disturbing the Mercury and making the situation worse then obviously we want to look at that and when I was at grassy narrows that was one of the first questions I asked was is there a way of cleaning up this Mercury so that it doesn't actually further contaminate the water, the fish and the other wildlife. So Mr Speaker obviously we will look at the information, the ministry will look at the information that the working group that is tasked with this specific subject is going to take this into account Mr Speaker and look for a way for it. Thank you Mr Speaker. My questions for the minister of citizenship, immigration and international trade. Ontario's new commerce settlement program support agency like the Center for Immigrants and Community Services better known CICS in my riding of Scarborough Asian Court and this agency has provided almost 50 years of comprehensive diverse program for newcomers of all ages Mr Speaker and this settlement programs supports communities that's integrated in our province since last year our government has invested over $82 million in new commerce settlement program each year nearly 80,000 immigrants benefit from our investment Speaker through you to the minister can he please inform the house what the new commerce settlement program is doing to support new Canadians. Thank you Mr Speaker I want to thank the member from agent for asking the question Speaker over the next two years 2016 to 2018 your new commerce settlement program will provide 20 million in funding to support 114 projects across Ontario Speaker the funding will improve access to services providing support to 97 settlement agencies of which 19 are new Speaker it will double the number of francophone service providers to attract and integrate francophone newcomers it also provide a free full increase in settlement funding to expand services in northern Ontario and improve service access for vulnerable immigrant population such as refugees. Mr Speaker this is just the beginning we will continue to support refugees as they integrate with Ontario committee. Thank you Speaker Thank you Speaker Thank you to the minister for the response it is reassuring to see that our governments understand the importance of transparency like CICS and the Chinese professional association of Canada to help newcomers settle in our communities. I'm also very pleased Mr Speaker to see that the NSP funded services are available in broad range of newcomers group such as permanent residents Canadian citizens, refugees and refugee claimants, provincial nominees, temporary foreign workers including the live-in caregivers international students because many of my constituents in Scarborough Asian have benefited from these programs organization funded through the NSP have a proven track record of providing quality services newcomers process organization capacity deliver quality services demonstrate sustainability and appropriate financial management. Speaker to you to the minister can you please outline the orientation to Ontario immigrant services of what it offers to new Canadians Thank you Minister Thank you Speaker It has been a great success the orientation to Ontario program is a service that helps current reason immigrants get quality information about settling in Ontario the program is coordinated by COSTI immigrant services and its deliver in local committees by a network of 19 settlement agencies and estimated 2500 reason newcomers in 24 Ontario committees will benefit from the program 2015 to 16 the program features a workshop series on settlement related topic a workbook for participants that includes settlement information and planning tools. There is also a website that is a great source for arrival and settlement information. Thank you Speaker Thank you. New question to the member from the middle class Thank you Speaker This government's record on healthcare has been disastrous the minister of health has placed the system into a state of perpetual crisis. Last year alone in London, Windsor and the rest of south west of Ontario we have seen a cut in healthcare services in longer wait times Due to this minister's freezing of possible budgets we have seen hospitals forced to cut staff or cut services in order to balance $19 million budget shortfall which saw 60 nurses fired Windsor cut 120 nursing jobs with a $20 million budget shortfall. All knee, hip and joint replacement surgeries were cancelled to postpone for January, February, March because of a lack of funds. The Premier has not answered the questions from the member from Nipissing or the member from Simcoe North. Does she have confidence in this minister and will she replace her? Well Mr. Speaker thanks I appreciate the question it gives me an opportunity because it has been some time since I've been able to speak about the new investments in the 2016-2017 budget. A billion dollars so that our entire healthcare budget is roughly $52 billion it's substantial to say the least but as part of that $1 billion we're investing in a whole set of things. I've spoken obviously about the $345 million going to hospitals and the $12 billion going to the new capital investments but I haven't had an opportunity to say things like $85 million of new dollars for that important area of recruitment and retention of nurses of occupational therapists of dietitians many of them who are in the front line who are working in our family health teams or other similar environments or importantly the work of my documentary assistant the member from Ottawa center I hope so an investment of $75 million to fund new hospice beds across the province Mr. Speaker Thank you Mr. Speaker the only people that have confidence in this minister is the premier herself just talk to the healthcare professionals across the province they are disgusted with the access that they have had lack of due to this government the public has had on not only doctors but also pharmacists in this province the premier seems fine with this action Mr. Speaker we have seen the stem cell transplant system fail resulting in deaths in this province and the premier is fine with this we've seen this minister nurture a culture of fear in the home care system and the premier is fine with this but the line was drawn three months ago when Pete Verbin a 61 year old Alzheimer patient was found on the floor in restraints for eight days because the hospital was understaffed and over capacity even the member from London North Centre says this was absolutely unnecessary Speaker the healthcare system has been in perpetual crisis for years there have been cuts in services cuts in nurses and our hospitals are over capacity sorry minister well Mr. Speaker obviously it's a big question and I'll do my best to answer to the satisfaction of the member opposite but Mr. Speaker we are investing so much money in new investments that are relevant to Ontarians and I think Ontarians at the end of the day what they look to are the outcomes are they able to access a family doctor or a nurse practitioner 94% of them are in fact just the year before last the most recent figures show 900 more new physicians began practice in this province that's roughly almost four times the rate of population growth so we're making investments in our doctors we're continuing to increase the line for compensation for doctors 3000 more nurses practicing in our province last year alone according to the Ontario College of Nurses we're continuing to make those important investments in people in the facilities that people depend on across this province Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the premier level Howard the very eloquent executive director of the Native Women's Centre tell us what we already knew that 90 First Nations community in Ontario do not have safe drinking water in Ottawa Piscat it contributed to a rash of skin lesion for young children here in Ontario in 2016 First Nations children are sick because of untreated water does the premier think that it is acceptable that after 13 years of Liberal government first nation Ontarians in 90 community still do not have safe drinking water Mr. Speaker I do not think that it is acceptable that any Ontarian anywhere in the province would not have access to clean drinkable water Mr. Speaker it is unacceptable at the root of the ceremony that happened this morning and all of the work that we have done as a government Mr. Speaker to work with First Nations and quite frankly with the previous federal government to engage them to try to get them to work with us we moved ahead Mr. Speaker we have put in place a plan to address drinking water and I think now we have a federal government that will work with us on that Mr. Speaker but it is absolutely our objective to address the challenges of drinking water on reserve Mr. Speaker to take all of the expertise that we have in Ontario the technology that we have and work with the federal government and the First Nations to put in place the right water supply for each of the First Nations in the province Mr. Speaker thank you Speaker we all know that water is a basic human right the rest of us in Ontario we take it for granted but when I asked during estimates for Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs I am told that it is a federal responsibility but you know what Speaker infrastructure needs in First Nations is a Ontario responsibility we don't need to pass the buck on that one I would like the Premier to tell this house when will First Nations Ontario living in 90 First Nations communities communities like Curve Lake like Pecanjecum like Charlotte Lake 40 like Kitchener Mikusig and Inuzig will have safe drinking water thank you Mr. Speaker the member opposite might know that each situation is somewhat different so for example on Pecanjecum it is my understanding when I was there there is clean water but the water doesn't flow to people's houses so Mr. Speaker in that case there is an issue of building the infrastructure and making sure that clean water can actually get to the houses Mr. Speaker in other situations there are water treatment plants it's not acceptable but the situation is different community by community that means we have to work with the communities and with the federal government Mr. Speaker for transportation of water or whether it's the water system itself whether it's the training of the folks on the ground to make sure that the troubleshooting can happen all of that has to be done and it must be done in partnership with the First Nations and with the federal government that's the work that we are doing in our government Mr. Speaker another question well thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Community and Social Services last week I was pleased with the Minister in Aurora for a funding announcement of almost $1 million over two years for a project that will offer a number of housing alternatives for people with a range of complex developmental disability needs in my riding of New Market Aurora the Y-weight demonstration project is a collaboration between York Region Lifetime Independent Facilitation York Support Services and Montage Support Services Minister I understand this project is a broader developmental services housing task force initiative that you mentioned in the house this year Mr. Speaker can the Minister please provide us with an update on the recent work of the housing task force and the progress being made for residential services in Ontario well thank you Mr. Speaker and to the member for New Market Aurora for the question and for hosting me last week to announce the funding for the Y-weight demonstration project as the member knows these projects are part of a recent announcement of the second round of six creative community based housing initiatives for adults with developmental disabilities our government has committed up to $6 million over two years for demonstration or research projects which includes $2.13 million to support these six projects in Ottawa, Essex, Sarnia Lampton and New Market Aurora this is part of our three year $810 million investment to support the transformation and modernisation of developmental services the developmental services housing task force has been doing extensive work in the area of creative residential services because we know that there is no one size fits all housing for solution for adults with developmental disabilities well thank you minister for outlining the work this government and your ministry is doing in conversation with residents in my community it's very clear the importance that adequate access to residential services has on the lives of individuals living with disabilities and their families there continues to be a need for more creative residential options and day support and respite services this is something that individuals, their families and the developmental services sector has known for a long time however the government's $810 million investment is making a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of Ontarians. Mr. Speaker can the minister please elaborate how efforts like the developmental services housing task force will create more opportunities that focus on inclusion, choice and independence Mr. Speaker we know that individuals with developmental disabilities have unique needs and that there is a demand for a broader range of housing solutions this is why the six projects selected are a wide range of supports including developing a DSW co-op so that families have a pool of trained and qualified staff to hire using their passport funding using technology to increase independence and quality of life and digital tools to support Francophone families in their search for housing I'd like to thank the hard work of agencies, families, community partners and the housing task force members we have an opportunity to expand our knowledge and learn how creative partnerships can help us provide new housing support options. I look forward to future partnerships that we can learn from so that they can be replicated to help more people in the future thank you Mr. Speaker Thank you, no question. Member from Haliburton For the Premier day after day I hear from constituents in my riding and across this province about the harsh reality of this government's incompetence. Whether it's freezing budgets at mid-sized hospitals like Ross Memorial, Peterborough Regional Health Center being forced to eliminate 153 nursing positions, 61 RNs cut from St. Joseph's and Hamilton or 70 nurses cut at the Trillium Health Center in Mississauga. No area of this province has been spared from the government's failure to deliver on the home care, long-term care and mental health care that our patients need. The Minister has failed his mandate to ensure that the needs of Ontario's patients be at the center of our health system while the Premier pledged to be different that her predecessor we see that she is running down a path away from our patients ruthlessly firing 1,400 nurses in the last year. Mr. Speaker Will the Premier finally support the growing needs of Ontario's patients? Thank you Minister of Health and Long-term Care Well, you know try as I might Mr. Speaker, I just I have to go back to this allegation from both opposition parties that somehow we fired 1,400 nurses over the last year and again so are you telling me you don't believe the Ontario College of Nurses that the is the body responsible for regulating nurses which on their website they've indicated that 3,000 more nurses the majority of those in hospital they just dislike and don't trust and don't believe the Ontario College of Nurses because I think that that's probably the best and most independent source of information that we have Mr. Speaker Thank you Well Mr. Speaker back to the Premier the government is out of touch those numbers are true I didn't make them up I didn't pull them out of thin air but you're no longer Please finish the question Thank you As a nurse I firmly believe that our registered nurses our nurse practitioners our registered practical nurses and nurses students serve our support here and respect if there are fewer than 13 years this government has become both financially and morally bankrupt and the accessibility and the quality of patient care have deteriorated and they continue to crumble so Mr. Premier since you haven't answered the member for Simcoe North the member from Nipissing or the member from Elgin Middlesex London are you going to remove the Minister of Health Minister of Health long term care so I would imagine that the member office therefore is a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario so call them up tell them that you're a paid member ask them how many more nurses are working in our hospitals are working in our communities last year alone and it's 3,000 net not any gross number that the member opposite might want to talk about a net increase Mr. Speaker but it's understandable because maybe her relationship isn't that great because her government that fired 6,000 nurses when they were in power that described them as out of time, out of sorts hula hoops Mr. Speaker and it was her government that closed 10,000 hospital beds you talked about devastation and the hospital we're rebuilding the mess that they created Mr. Speaker Thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question is to the premier the government has introduced its election reform bill it shuts down critics helps the Liberal Party makes it nearly impossible for non-partisan citizens groups to get their message out and so it opens the doors to partisan government advertising dominating the airwaves it cracks down on public advocates but leaves the door open to lobbyists this legislation clearly is about helping the Liberal Party can the premier explain why they refuse to move ahead with the transparent non-partisan panel Thank you very much I remain baffled by the question from the NDP because every single opportunity when it was given to them to participate in a conversation around what the bill should contain they said no in fact they refuse to engage in a conversation because they probably wanted to delay the process because they have so much house cleaning to do on their end they won't engage in the process the official opposition engaged in the process the Green Party of Ontario were quite engaged in the process but the NDP Speaker no substantive ideas but stall and delay tactics we have put forward a very robust plan to consult the public the bill has been tabled has been referred to the Standing Committee for consideration over the summer months we will be debating the motion dealing with that which I saw a unanimous consent which was denied by the NDP we look forward to working and listening to Ontario Speaker Thank you supplementary Mr Speaker we fully understand that the Liberals remain baffled on a number of issues about getting restoring confidence in the electoral system and the truth of the matter is that the Liberals wrote this legislation behind closed doors they didn't consult a single expert they didn't consult Ontarians they didn't listen to the concerns raised by the opposition this is about helping the Liberals and shutting down any public criticism now they are taking control of the committee process will the Premier put partisanship aside up to a non-partisan panel chaired by an independent person and not under the complete legislative control and total veto of the Liberal party of Ontario Yes Speaker we remain baffled by NDP's flip and flops every single day it baffled every single one of us because they keep flipping and flopping on all the positions with Speaker when we send them a letter inviting them to a meeting on the draft legislation they said no when we reached out to them on May 2nd asking them to attend the meeting on the draft legislation they said no Speaker then Speaker I send them documents from my briefings with the official opposition and the Green Party and ask for the input they said no Speaker but apparently they have some sort of suggestion out on a Facebook page we still address to the Premier which she still hasn't received the letter Speaker this is how NDP has been stalling the whole democratic process around ensuring that Ontario get a say on the draft legislation as soon as possible Speaker this afternoon we will be drafting the motion so that as of June 6th Thank you Any questions from the member from Barry Thank you Mr. Speaker My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing as part of the climate change action plan cap and trade proceeds will be invested transparently into initiatives that will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions these investments will create good jobs in sectors like clean tech and construction, help small and medium businesses reduce greenhouse gas pollution and help households save money on energy Last week the government shared the first set of these planned investments that will utilize these proceeds to drive our goal to fight climate change Mr. Speaker building on the success of the green investment funds dedication of $92 million for energy retrofits to social housing across this province Minister McMeacon and Minister Murray announced a further plan to increase the energy efficiency of not only social housing but also the future of the green investment funds Mr. Speaker will the minister share with the house the details of this investment and speak how it will reduce costs Sorry Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing That's a terrific question what can I say that's a good question I got a good answer Of course reducing emissions as this house knows is a key priority for our government and that starts with social housing and select units in the private housing sector That's why as part of our climate action plan we intend to provide up to $400 million for apartment building retrofits and $500 million for social housing retrofits That's going to help with installing efficient boilers, windows insulation, lighting and to be quite frank Mr. Speaker, investing cap and trade proceeds in this way is really going to help not only provide additional access to affordable housing but do it in a clean and environmentally sensitive way Supplementary Thank you to the minister for that answer when we can invest in both combating climate change and helping low income Ontarians to a lower carbon economy I think that's a huge win-win Mr. Speaker, this announcement is part of the soon to be released climate change action plan The CCAP will outline the actions we are taking to ensure Ontario reaches its greenhouse gas emission target and will focus on making it easier and faster for consumers and industry to access new low carbon technology The minister has committed that the action plan will be out before the house rises Mr. Speaker, can the minister please inform the house on the action plan and the real positive benefits it will have on people's lives and in the fight against climate Question, thank you Minister Speaker to the minister of the environment and climate change Minister of the environment Thank you very much Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for Barry who has been such a great champion It's interesting, we visited homes in her constituency that are net zero or low carbon homes that the sale advantages they come without a heating or cooling bill Mr. Speaker and Minister McMeekin and I I think it was a humbling experience when we were at Green Phoenix housing Mr. Speaker because they've retrofitted that and why did they do it because their heating costs were becoming expensive for their low income tenants and their emissions by 40% they dramatically cut the costs of living in the home and what they discovered was a low greenhouse gas emissions home was a very inexpensive affordable housing building to do so there's lots to be learned from people out in the community Mr. Speaker Thank you Thank you Mr. Speaker to the premier in February I asked the minister of health why the government cut jobs in response Mr. Speaker the answer that sounded as though it was drafted in an ivory tower despite the minister's protest on the contrary when you cut front line services at hospitals wait times get longer that's just a fact Mr. Speaker my constituents in Wipiochwa sent a strong message to the government that they're tired of this government's failed policies which lead to longer wait times and watered down services that they're tired of waste and mismanagement the premier still hasn't answered will she shuffle out the minister of health Thank you Mr. Health long term care well Mr. Speaker you know in our most recent budget we announced an allocation and increase in the budget to Ontario shores of over $2 million Mr. Speaker and it comes on the heels of some other important investments in patient addictions investment that we recently made the extremely important eating disorder inpatient program that now exists at Ontario shores it's an important I know quite frankly that institution that hospital environment that provides such important high quality of care it's important not just to the residents of that region but to the entire province Mr. Speaker Ontario shores is one of the the hospitals that we're focusing a tremendous amount of attention on to make sure that it is on an up-to-date basis providing that high quality of care that historians can and should expect Mr. Speaker Member from Leeds Member from Leeds Grenville on a point of order Yes point of order speaker I'd like to introduce to you and through you the members of the legislative assembly constituents of my riding of Leeds Grenville we have some delegation of my second girls government they're from three high schools in Brockville and also representatives from girls Inc of Upper Canada Thank you I'd like you to invite them every day a member from the member from Nickelbelt on a point of order Thank you speaker I'd like to correct my record this morning I said that children in Atta Wapiscat were suffering skin lesion that was a mistake it's a concession one I meant to say the member has every right to correct her own record the member from Kitchener Thank you Mr. Speaker I invite you and my colleagues here in the house to join me in wishing a very happy birthday to the member for Burlington and I'm told that this is the 25th anniversary of her 29th birthday so happy Thank you I just want to welcome today Marlene Galliott and Jeff Peller welcome to the members gallery Thank you Thank you Thank you speaker I am sure that all members of this house will want to join me in expressing our pride and congratulations to the London Knights who won the memorial cup on the Lake Shore on a point of order Thank you Mr. Speaker I'd like to welcome to the host a constituent from Atta Wapiscat Lake Shore Welcome to Queen's Park Thank you The member from Prince Edward Hastings Thank you very much speaker I'd like to welcome two guests of mine from Belleville I'm sure they were there in 99 when the bulls won the OHL championship Jean-Vierre Pouliot and Stanley Jones are here, welcome Thank you, welcome The member from Fumbling Pointy West Mr. Speaker I'd like to welcome I know that somewhere in the building where they were before former member Rob Milligan now teacher came for high school in his class Thank you Here and during constituency week I'm pleased to say the member from Trinity Spadina at his birthday Happy birthday member The member from Scarborough No, sorry The member from Etobicoke Thank you speaker I would take this opportunity to respectfully invite all colleagues to a reception today from 5 to 7 p.m. hosted by His Excellency Erdene Sen the Consul General from Turkey to Ontario Thank you The member from the Minister of Tourism Thank you Mr. Speaker I just want to remind members that there is an African Union flag raising here at the legislature today at 12 o'clock Thank you I showed a little bit of lenience just in this particular situation due to the fact that we did not have introductions because of our ceremony this morning We did not have an agreement that we used the five minutes for introductions at that time and I would hope that you would help me in sticking to that I'm lenient in the five minutes if there's a large number after that it's off-bounds So anyway, there are no deferred votes this House stands recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon