 Therefore, it is time for Question Period, the leader of Her Majesty's Royal Opposition. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Energy. In an effort to hide from the hydro crisis in Ontario, the Liberal spin machine has picked up a new favourite word. When I asked about affordability, they respond with reliability. They tout so-called historic investments to ensure we have reliable energy. But Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Ontario had 135 power outages of some kind. That's as many as BC, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Alberta combined. Mr. Speaker, if the Liberal government is responsible for our so-called reliable energy, why can't the Minister keep the lights on? Can you see it, please? Thank you. I am receiving indications by the behaviour that we might want to move immediately. I'm trying to address that we may have to move immediately to warnings. I will do so at your will. Minister of Energy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd like to thank the Leader of the Opposition for that question. The Liberal government modernized an electricity system that needed to be fixed to ensure Ontarians have the power they need when they need it. And yes, Mr. Speaker, there are unfortunate circumstances where we have power outages right across the province on some days, Mr. Speaker. But what we don't have any more, Mr. Speaker, are rolling brownouts and blackouts that actually cost our economy billions of dollars because of a lack of investment in transmission in infrastructure. The Liberal government, Mr. Speaker, was like they ran Niagara Falls dry, Mr. Speaker. So what we had to do when we took over is we invested in transmission. We invested in generation. And now, Mr. Speaker, we are making sure that we continue to invest and find ways to make this system as affordable as possible for not only businesses, but for residents right across the province, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, back to the Minister of Energy, that you can tell the government benches get a little bit sensitive when we talk about their power outages. So let's speak about the specifics. The total duration of these 135 power outages was 16,620 minutes. That's 11 and a half days of power outages. So Mr. Speaker, let's look next door to put some context into this. In 2015, Quebec had a total of six and a half hours worth of power outages. So let's recap to make this very clear for the Minister of Energy. In Quebec, six and a half hours. In Ontario, 11 and a half days of power outages. Mr. Speaker, does that sound like reliable energy in Ontario? Not at all. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure there was a question in there, but it gives me an opportunity to talk about the great stuff that we've been doing in this province when it comes to making our energy system affordable as we can for our residents and our businesses, Mr. Speaker. We took a system that was reliant on dirty coal, Mr. Speaker, something that they continue to talk about right now and we know they've got a plan to bring that back, Mr. Speaker. But we also want to ensure that by eliminating dirty coal, fire generation... That's personality default. I'm going to move to warnings. And I'm glad the member from Simcoe Gray really was careful with what he said and how he said it. Please. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So we're continuing to take action to make sure that every Ontarian has access to affordable, clean, reliable electricity, Mr. Speaker. We don't actually shy away from investments and investing in infrastructure and transmission like they did during their time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, back to the Minister of Energy. The Minister of Energy is refusing to answer my question on why we don't have reliable hydro in Ontario. So let's keep on looking at Quebec. In 2015, Quebec had three power outages that were a result of either faulty equipment or human air. Ontario had 32 power outages. In the Premier's own words, the people of Ontario need to be able to count on electricity system that's clean and reliable. Clearly, the people can't count on that in Ontario and they certainly can't count on the Liberals to do anything to make hydro bills more affordable or power more reliable. Mr. Speaker, our system is both unaffordable and unreliable. How does the Minister of Energy continue to condone the system that is an absolute failure because of your decision? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last 13 years, we've been working to rebuild and modernize our system, a system that they left in shambles, Mr. Speaker. And we're on our way to rebuilding 80% of that electricity system that is now clean and reliable. We are ensuring that we have systems that doesn't have a rolling blackout, that doesn't have blackouts that leave our province in disarray costing billions of dollars to get our economy back up, Mr. Speaker. The ISO, for example, estimates that significant transmission projects completed since 2003 have increased the transmission capacity by about 10,000 megawatts, Mr. Speaker. Our government is committed to ensuring that Ontarians have the power they need when they need it and as affordable as we can make it, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much. New question, the leader of the opposition. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the acting Premier. Dr. David Jacobs wrote to me this week. He let me know that in Thunder Bay, they lost three radiologists, two retired and one left Ontario. Thunder Bay lost its only vascular surgeon. As this government vilifies doctors and cuts healthcare, an exodus is happening. Mr. Speaker, Northern Ontario can't afford more cuts to their healthcare and they can't afford to lose more doctors. And Northern Ontario certainly deserves more than a whistle stop from the Premier once a year. Mr. Speaker, when can the North expect proper funding of healthcare? When can they expect the Minister of Health to actually make sure there's physicians and Northern Ontario not chasing them out of our province? Thank you. Minister of Health, long-term care. Well, the leader of the opposition knows that we continue to increase your funding to physicians in the healthcare system or hospitals throughout the province, including in the North. But what I think is really also important to address is the recent change of heart that the official opposition has had and the leader himself when it comes to binding arbitration for our doctors. Because as we know, Mr. Speaker, as recently as August the 9th, the Progressive Conservative leader said his party supports the push for binding arbitration, saying doctors are essential workers like police and firefighters who contracts go to third-party arbitrators. But in fact, there is evidence here, perhaps, Mr. Speaker, of a flip-flop. And I'm happy to address that. If that continues, I'll find the individuals that started and provide you with a warning final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, back to the acting Premier. You know, it's one thing to not want to talk about the doctors leaving Thunder Bay. It's another thing to simply read liberal speaking points that have nothing to do with the question. So I'm going to try again. Dr. Nadia Lam's advocacy has been well noted across the medical community in Ontario. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is warned. You realize, just for information, stop the call. You realize that for information purposes, when I warn you, the next is out. Please finish. Mr. Speaker, according to Dr. Nadia Lam, wait lists are now the norm in Ontario. She no longer remembers a time when they didn't exist. Three months for an elective MRI, one year for an ophthalmologist, four years for a spine surgeon, four years for a crisis mental health equipment, 28 days for a cancer diagnosis. The list goes on as do the wait lists. So Mr. Speaker, my question is will the government condone these wait lists? Do you not appreciate that your cuts to healthcare have had an enormous cost on Ontario? Mr. Speaker, I'm not surprised that he's quoting Nadia Lam of the concerned doctors of Ontario because what the Globe and Mail has described as progressive concern of a leader Patrick Brown's closest political confident, Wall-Aid Solomon, we know it was working closely and it has been working closely with concerned doctors of Ontario in the back rooms, along with Dan Robertson, the communications expert, the former senior staffer in his office as well. But I want to get back to what's really important for Ontarians is we know what the flip was. Both sides are bantering back and forth. August the 9th when the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun quoted him in support of binding arbitration. I have no doubt that this is what he told concerned doctors of Ontario and other doctors behind closed doors but more recently in fact on September the 14th is quoted by Canadian press. He has quite a different response. I'm sorry I'm going to have to keep people waiting for what is going to be the final supplement. Thank you. Mr. Speaker once again when the health minister can't answer the question he talks about something that is not related it is liberal talking points on how to deal with issues. So I'm going to try a third time to ask the health minister a question. President of the Treasury Board is warned. Please finish. Mr. Speaker I'm going to ask the health minister if he'll apologize to our province's physicians. He claimed that their overhead was part of their salaries and he tried to shame them. The health minister is a doctor. He should know better. He should understand what Dr. Lam said and that was the medical profession exists to serve patients. To do this they need clinics, secretaries, office managers, nurses and technicians. They need medical grade equipment, computers, desks and chairs. They buy it it's upkeep an event sure placement. All that is paid by the physicians themselves. So Mr. Speaker will this government think will they apologize to physicians for the minister of health's attempt? The leader of the official opposition should apologize to doctors across this province for telling them that his party would be supporting binding arbitration. On September the 9th the CP Canadian press quotes him as saying in quotations with reference to binding arbitration that quote that should be one of the items on the negotiations table. It should be part of the negotiations process. It's a flip-flop he's actually publicly endorsed our position which runs contrary to what his friends and the doctors and the concerned doctors in Ontario want which is binding arbitration prior to negotiations. Thank you for endorsing our government's position. Thank you. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. My question is to the acting premier. On Friday we learned the premier for the moment has finally stopped the plan to privatize OLG. Has the government finally realized that Ontarians did not vote for privatization? Thank you. Mr. Speaker the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation did its due diligence in consultation with experienced proponents. OLG had a procurement process for the lottery programs and they have now sought to go forward with in-house programs recognizing that the project that they were being proposed, their proponents weren't willing to proceed. So we proceeded ourselves. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Supplementary. Ontarians didn't vote for privatization but that hasn't stopped the government from privatizing Hydro-1. People are hopeful now that with the government's intention to perhaps stop the privatization of OLG they might actually stop the sale of Hydro-1. Will the acting premier listen for once to the people of Ontario and actually stop the sell-off of Hydro-1 or will the government continue to disappoint the people of this province? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the province and the government looks at its assets and tries to maximize its value in a way that benefits all Ontarians. The process by which the OLG was proceeding recognized that there was more province to have it in-house because of the way it was functioning. The people in the zoo who are doing tremendous work around the gaming operations and the lottery deserve to be recognized that they can do it better than a proponent that was providing it outside and there was values and costs involved. When it comes to Hydro-1 the value of Hydro-1 now is even more than it was before and that's a direct benefit to the people of Ontario and more reinvestment into new projects to provide even greater investment returns. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, privatizing OLG is a bad idea. The people of this province did not vote for it. Privateizing Hydro-1 is an even worse idea that people didn't vote for it but they don't have a choice. They have to turn on the lights and they don't want their public system privatized. If the government is willing to listen to the people of this province and stop the privatization of OLG, why won't they listen to Ontarians and stop the privatization of Hydro-1? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the member opposite has his facts wrong. I mean Ontario Lottering Gaming's modernization process is about providing some service delivery. It's not about privatizing the OLG. He's completely wrong on that point and furthermore we're talking about broadening ownership of Hydro-1 for the benefit of the people of Ontario, recognizing the returns that we can make. Again, the member opposite has it wrong. You know why Mr. Speaker? They have no plan. They've never had a plan and all they put in their budget was or in their proposal was only nine pages none of which relate to how we're going to invest in our economy, how we're going to stimulate growth and how we're going to make people Ontario that much better off. We're doing that here on this side of the house Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, my question is again to the acting Premier. Liberal insiders say that the Premier is not only interested in selling off Hydro-1 but she's also interested in helping the sale of Toronto Hydro. Is that true? Mr. Speaker, the member just referenced something that's important is the fact that the distribution of electricity in our province is actually a competitive process with 72 different companies. Hydro-1 is only one of the major number that are providing distribution of electricity to the people of Ontario. He just referenced the fact that possibly others are now looking at the benefits of what we're doing in the province related to Hydro-1 and how they can then maximize its use as well in their respective regions. We also have a consolidation of horizon, enter source, power stream and Brampton Hydro, a rival to the industry to find and foster greater savings so that people can have greater benefit from that distribution Mr. Speaker and we will see what happens next. Mr. Speaker, people want to make a good life for themselves but it becomes difficult when they see their bills increasing day after day, bills like Hydro-1. People can't afford the privatization of Hydro-1 but the Premier is doing it anyways. But what makes it worse is the reason behind it, the rational behind it. Liberal insiders are saying that the Premier wants to help the privatization of Hydro, of Toronto Hydro quote because it would give her Liberals political cover for their own privatization of Hydro-1 end quote. Let that sink in for a minute. For the Liberal Party it's not about the people, it's about their own self-interest, it's about their own Liberal Party's interests. Why will the Government assist in this, will the Government yes or no be a part of the sale of Toronto Hydro? Simple answer, simple question. Mr. Speaker I think he's just making it up as he goes. Obviously we have made a very clear plan, we've illustrated what we are doing with our assets we're trying to maximize the value so that we can reinvest into our economy while safeguarding those very precious assets that are part of the province's ongoing activity. When he relates to other regions and other governments and their desire to look at those ways, that's certainly up to those provinces and those governments and to those respective cities. Again, the member opposite I have not seen a plan, all of what we're doing is reinvesting into our economy we're actually doing what we can to lower the overall cost by removing the 8% HST portion to our bills. The member opposite seemed to want to do that before, now they're opposing it. We frankly don't know where they're at, we're going to continue doing what's best for the people of Ontario. Final supplementary. The premier didn't run on privatizing Hydro One, but that's what she's doing anyways. She didn't run on privatizing or helping the sale of Toronto Hydro, but according to liberal insiders she thinks it's a good idea. She didn't run on privatizing NWIN, Meridian, Horizon, London Hydro or any other local distribution company but if the government is willing and supporting of a sell-off of Toronto Hydro, who knows what could be next. How much more of our public hydro system is this liberal government planning to privatize? Thank you. The premier of this province ran on promoting a stronger economy, creating more jobs ensuring that we make life everyday life easier by eliminating tuition costs to students which they voted against to ensure that we actually index the minimum wage. Again, something that they seem to like but voted against, Mr. Speaker. We'll continue what we're doing like increasing childcare spaces and ensuring that we invest the monies that are precious to the people of Ontario to make even more for the benefit of people of Ontario. The member opposite doesn't seem to want to do that. We will do that here, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the minister of transportation. Last week I spoke to the minister and wrote him a letter about one of my constituents, Mary Julie Cazenzo. She is a paramedic in Gatineau. She lives in Ottawa. She is a first responder and she has post-traumatic stress disorder after attending a teenage suicide. The reason her license was revoked is cited as quote-unquote psychiatric disorders. Ms. Cazenzo's psychiatrist told Ministry of Transportation officials that there's no quote psychological reason why her ability to drive a personal vehicle should be limited. She further states, in fact, limiting her mobility is likely to exasperate her mental health symptoms. Through you, Speaker, the minister and all members must be concerned about how this looks stigmatizing people further who have mental health concerns. And I ask the minister will the government work to end the stigma surrounding mental health issues and reinstate my constituents' license as her doctor suggests? Thank you. I want to begin by thanking the member for the question and also for reaching out to me a number of days ago on this matter relating to her constituent. As I've said since receiving that letter, the ministry is taking a look at it. I'm not in a position to comment on any specific case with respect to this procedure, Speaker. I should point out and happy to have obviously I will have a follow-up opportunity in the supplementary from the Ministry of Transportation's perspective. There is no blanket decision that gets made with respect to the medical review of licenses. Everything is done on a case-by-case basis, Speaker. And I would also point out that at all times, which I think that member and her constituents and every member in this House could appreciate, Speaker, at all times the ministry keeps the safety of all users on our roads in terms of its paramount concern. And I'd be happy to provide more information and follow-up. Thanks very much, Speaker. Thank you. Supplementary. Member from the seven witnesses. Thank you, Speaker, to the acting premier. Speaker, earlier this year while surrounded by Ontario's first responders, the Minister of Labor made a plea for those suffering from PTSD to step forward and seek treatment. Sadly, there are many first responders who will seek negative impact of this case, see the negative impact of the case and the loss of independence it has caused. Many will feel as though they must choose between suffering and silence and suffering the consequences of seeking help. Ministers have insisted we must reduce the stigma associated with PTSD and encourage people to get help, yet the actions of their ministries have added to that stigma. Our first responders deserve better and your ministries must do better. So, Speaker, to the acting premier, what immediate steps will this government take to address the systemic discrimination against PTSD sufferers? Thank you. Thanks very much, Speaker. I would say right off the top that I know that every single member of this legislature from all three parties has enormous respect for the work that our first responders here in the province of Ontario do. Day in, day out. I think from the perspective of the Ministry of Transportation, as I said just a moment ago in response to the first question, there is no blanket approach that the ministry takes with respect to dealing with medical review of driver's licenses at all times. We need to make sure that we have safe roads and highways. I believe every member in the House can appreciate that. We will continue to work with all of the individuals who have driver's licenses in the province to make sure that if there is a concern with the system, it is a system specifically with respect to the medical review of licenses that's constantly updated. I would only point out quickly, Speaker, that we are currently meeting or exceeding at the Ministry our 30-day customer service standard, which is processing more than 90% of cases within 10 days. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Good morning to you. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Three months before the Nipagon was discovered a problem with the bearing assembly. This is the part that holds the bridge to the foundation. This is the part that failed. The contractors proposed a solution. The engineers told the ministry there was still a problem. But the ministry approved it anyways and then didn't install the parts. Why did the MPO roll the dice with people's lives and allow the bridge to open when they knew there were still problems with this bearing assembly? Thanks very much, Speaker. I want to begin by thanking the member opposite for the question. Just last week, I believe it was Thursday, I was in Nipagon with the member, the MPP for that community, my colleague. As I had said throughout the process with respect to the Nipagon River Bridge, when all of the reports had been completed with respect to the analysis regarding why the bridge was still open. I believe the ministry provided a public update to the community and to the people of Ontario and all of the reports relating to the malfunctioning are now available on the ministry of transportation's website. As I said on Thursday, Speaker, at all times from my perspective, the safety of the traveling public is the number one priority. That's why we wanted to make sure that we had both lanes of the bridge on the bridge within 24 hours of the malfunction. And we look forward to continuing to provide additional updates on the permanent retrofitted repair as we go forward. Thanks very much, Speaker. We are extremely lucky that no one was injured or killed when the Nipagon Bridge suddenly failed within one week of opening. The public deserves to know what went wrong and who is responsible. MPO officials knew there was a problem with the bridge three weeks before it opened. They then approved a flawed quick and dry fix that probably would not have prevented the bridge of failure, even if it had actually been installed. Did the minister know about these problems with the bridge? And if so, why did he allow the bridge to open without making absolutely sure the bearing assembly would hold? Thank you. So, Speaker, I'm not going to comment with respect to some of the implied allegations that are contained in the question, the follow-up question from that member. I will say, as I said in my original answer, that the safety of the traveling public is the number one priority for the Ministry of Transportation. This member will know that this is a significant investment in crucial infrastructure in northern Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate, Speaker. We know that we were able to get both lanes of traffic reopened in a safe fashion within 24 hours of the malfunctioning of the bridge. We now have all of the reports, including one conducted by a completely independent external engineering firm. We understand what took place. We are working towards a permanent retrofit. Speaker, I should also point out that we are working with the Trans-Canada Network, and once again, I'd like to thank the member from the Thunder Bay Superior North for his advocacy. Thank you. New question? The member from Kitchener Center. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the anti-racism directorate. Speaker, a very necessary dialogue has long been going on in the province, the outcome of which will have a significant impact on anti-racism. As Ontarians, we know that we've made a great deal of progress on diversity and inclusion, but we still have a lot to do before we're at a point where racialized groups are able to reach their full potential. I understand that the Minister recently received his first mandate letter as part of his responsibility for anti-racism. Speaker, could the Minister please tell us how he intends to take action to combat racism in Ontario? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the member from Kitchener Center for her question. We started the anti-racism directorate earlier this year, Mr. Speaker, because we know exactly what the member just mentioned to be true, that Ontario is an incredible place, Mr. Speaker, and it's full of diversity and inclusion, but we know that we can do better here. My mandate is very clear, Mr. Speaker. I'm going to lead a government approach to anti-racism engaging with anti-racism leaders and developing an indigenous focus anti-racism strategy. I'm going to ensure that the directorate provides leadership and expertise that includes looking at implementation of disaggregated data in my own ministry and others and working with my fellow ministers on street checks and police oversight, and we're going to find ways to increase public awareness around education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the minister for his answer. It's very encouraging to hear that we are furthering this conversation across our province and working as Ontarians together to move forward. Speaker, in July the directorate held the first of its community meetings in Toronto as part of its efforts to hear from people, and that first public meeting focused on anti-black racism. There was a great deal of passionate and honest input at that meeting, and the minister knows racism is not restricted to any one corner of the province, and that people across Ontario will have valuable insights to offer on all forms of racism. Speaker, I've been in contact for several months with staff at the directorate, urging them to visit Kitchener Centre, where my local stakeholders have experiences to share. Can the minister tell us if he intends to visit my community to engage with people there? Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I'd like to thank the member for her advocacy on this issue. Absolutely. We intend to bring public meetings across the province, and we've announced dates in Hamilton, and we'll be there tonight. Tomorrow night we're in Mississauga, but we'll be in Scarborough in October, London, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Windsor and Ottawa. I want everyone to know that we'll be talking about racism, but more specifically around anti-Islamophobia. We'll be talking about anti-black racism. We'll talk about indigenous issues. I'd like to again thank the member for her advocacy, because we've had conversations and I appreciate the fact that you're willing to hold a conversation in your community to bring value into this larger conversation. I'd like to invite all members of this House to join us in this journey because racism is a difficult thing to discuss and talk about, but we know, Mr. Speaker, we can make Ontario even a better place. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment. My question pertains to the WPD Canada proposed 500-foot wind turbine project next to the Collingwood Airport. It's come to my attention that during the recent environmental review Tribunal hearing that at the last moment the province decided to call a NAV Canada representative as an expert witness instead of from Transport Canada. Every pilot and airport official will tell you that calling a witness from Transport Canada would have made much more sense since it's the most knowledgeable and responsible agency tasked with ensuring aviation safety. Mr. Speaker, we have reason to believe that the change in witnesses was because Transport Canada did have concerns about the location of the 500-foot turbines and had a representative to testify. Can the Minister please explain why there was a change in witnesses? Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that the member opposite would know that he, having been a former member Minister of the Environment, now maybe he inserted himself into the environmental tribunal process, maybe he as a minister decided to break the law and direct officials on who should be a witness. Mr. Speaker, I read the law. I will not play a role in determining witnesses in any way influencing an environmental tribunal and I will keep it as a non-political process and let the experts choose the witnesses. I wish the member opposite would not be politicizing it because neither he nor I would be involved in this process. Thank you. We are back to the Minister. You can spin this all you want but my people believe and we have good reason to believe that somebody in your ministry tampered with the witnesses. Mr. Speaker, I have asked on several occasions in this House that I have said on several occasions that all 800-foot wind turbines between the Collingwood Regional Airport and the Steiner Aerodrome pose a hazard to aircraft operations whoever each time I make this claim the government refuses to acknowledge it but Mr. Speaker, just a few days ago the Minister's own director has admitted in his August 2016 final submission to the environmental review tribunal hearing that two of these turbines, two of the locations pose a serious risk and can no longer be supported as approved by the ministry is rescinding its position on two turbines why aren't you looking at the danger posed by all eight turbines? Thank you. I'm going to caution all sides when it comes to some of the verbiage that I've been hearing is type rope walking between impugning motives or making accusations of an individual I will be listening and continue to listen carefully I haven't actually heard it but I'll ask in some of the heckles it came close and let's guard ourselves against the kinds of things that we don't want to raise to the bottom for Minister Thank you Mr. Speaker and I'll start off with your a race to the bottom would involve would involve a member from the PN Carlton is warned finish please a race to the bottom would involve politicians public officials who there is a firewall between me and them that I cannot be involved in conversations with them about these matters it would also a race to the bottom Mr. Speaker would be to dismantle the autonomy and independence and the expert role that the environmental review tribunal plays I had nothing to do with the decision to change the configuration of turbines but the experts did that I had no role nor did any politician on this side or any other influencer in who witnesses are I have protected Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the acting premier we are at a critical moment for housing in Toronto this weekend the mayor of Toronto said that the provincial government has done quote a genius little colonel on quote on social housing he goes on to say if you look at the numbers it's miniscule compared to what needs to happen people live with the impact of the Liberals in action each and every day apartments are crumbling and the wait list for affordable housing has a hundred and seventy thousand families waiting in line when will this government step up and make a substantial new investment in social housing for the benefit of families today and for the next generation Thank you Minister of Housing Minister of Housing Thank you for that thank you to the member opposite for that question you know Speaker the province of Ontario and the city of Toronto have a shared priority in ensuring that every person has an affordable and suitable home our governments have a strong partnership and we continue to build as we work together to improve housing for those in Toronto and those right across Ontario we work closely with the city Mr. Speaker on the update to our long-term affordable housing strategy it is a transformative plan that will increase the supply of affordable housing not only in Toronto but across Ontario we're making the goal of social housing systems easier to navigate and help achieve our goal is to end chronic homelessness since 2013 Mr. Speaker this government has put four billion dollars Thank you Thank you Mr. Speaker back to the acting premier hundred and seventy thousand families Social housing in Toronto urgently needs two point six million dollars in repairs but this liberal government is failing to step up and fund the provinces share and without immediate action hundreds of units will close will lose them the wait list will keep growing and more and more in this city will not be able to afford a roof over their heads that's no way to build a better future for families in Toronto when Mr. Speaker will this government take real action to help people in the city and fully fund fully fund the provinces share of repairs to social housing Well thank you for that for the opportunity for the follow up I ended off the first question by saying that since 2003 the province has made commitments to housing of some four billion dollars Mr. Speaker one point two billion of that alone has been provided to Toronto and some of the other key investments I'd love to highlight in the rest of my time here a new portable housing benefit pilot for survivors of domestic violence three point nine million dollars into that community homeless prevention initiative a hundred and eleven point five million in each of the past three years Mr. Speaker strong communities rent supplement program funding of twenty point six million dollars which has assisted over two thousand households in 2015 investments in affordable housing programs Mr. Speaker of a hundred and eight point three million for the period eleven to fifteen clearly housing is a priority for this province Mr. Speaker and we will continue to work on that thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister responsible for francophone affairs I know that you went to the twenty seventh session of the association of francophone municipalities of Ontario and this is a francophone organization that is very important and offers a forum for municipal employees I am very proud to see that in my writing there is a francophone community and francophone issues are very important for me and the people of my writing can the minister update us on the efforts that are done thank you merci first of all I would like to thank the member for his question and also for his support to francophones in Ontario and in his community the francophone community plays an essential role in the development of Ontario this is why I go to this kind of event to better understand the reality of francophone terriens in the province and see how we can help them I would like to reaffirm that our government understands the importance of government services in French and I would like to tell you that it is a priority for us and we will continue to work in this way for the next few accomplishments last year Markham was designated the 26th region in the province to the francophone region I am very proud of this accomplishment and this year we are celebrating the 30th anniversary and we will receive a response at the francophones summit for our membership application I would like to thank you for your commitment to the francophone community and the French language I would like to congratulate the minister for her representation of our government and six years ago we decided that the 25th of September would be the Franco-Ontarian day in Ontario this allows us to thank the francophone community for their contribution cultural economic political contributions there is a lot to celebrate in the francophone community in Ontario how can the minister continue to support francophones in Ontario the minister thank you thank you Mr. Speaker thank you to the member I hope that everybody had the opportunity to celebrate the 25th of September it was a pleasure for me to see the peace tower illuminated in Ottawa with the francophone callers and last Friday the Quebec minister responsible for Canadian francophones was here with me for the flag raising and we announced a new program for young people we have a pilot project for young people in Quebec and Ontario this program will reinforce the links of this new generation and I would like to thank the minister hunter for her support and her engagement also my colleague Miss Mathews announced with me the creation of a planning council to develop post-secondary education in French and we hope that Diana Adder accepted to be president thank you Mr. Speaker my question to the acting premier your government promised to protect the social programs that Ontario needs and deserves but evidence is mounting that your policies are hurting Ontario's 2 million people with disabilities by pushing them into unemployment and poverty you're forcing the door shut and Durham's region's award-winning employment hub for almost 25 years sadly 13 years of waste and mismanagement has taken away funding for essential services and so you're cutting employment assistance for people with disabilities my question for the acting premier is how is it that you can find 70 million dollars for the defunct ORPP pension plan 6 million for Pan Am executives 4 million for Hydro One CEO but you won't put a single dollar into this accessible employment office in Durham region for people with disabilities thank you minister for accessibility minister responsible for accessibility thank you speaker I'm grateful for the question from the member office I believe this is my first question as Ontario's new minister for accessibility he's raised a question about Durham region's employment network it's a fine organization that provides excellent service to the community and I was sad to hear last week about them potentially closing in October in fact I was at a community meeting just late last week and was talking to board members from Dren I'm very pleased that my colleague ministries are looking at their Dren's recent proposal to see where they may not have met criteria and to give them that feedback and I'm hopeful I'm hopeful speaker that good news will come out of that and in the meantime thank you to Dren and the board directors for their excellent work thank you back to the acting premier thank you speaker the Durham region employment network was recognized by the former lieutenant Governor David Onley for accessible employment a critical employment aid to people with disabilities but the government is closing it on October 21 speaker and those people will have nowhere to turn for the support and training they need speaker this government spent over one billion dollars on gas plants yet now they're leaving people with disabilities in Durham region without access to important employment services governing is about priorities and it's clear this government has lost its moral compass well the acting premier commit to providing the funding necessary for the Durham region employment network to continue to operate so that people with disabilities in Durham region can access the services they need to be more productive and dignify water thank you a member from Whitby Oshawa for the question and speaker let me just say that it is important to remember our government is very committed to breaking down barriers for persons with disabilities here in our province and increasing employment of persons with disabilities in Ontario is a huge priority for us in fact if you look at my mandate letter speaker I am charged with leading the government work on an employment strategy for persons with disabilities I'm very pleased that the ministry advanced education skills development has reached out to Dran to talk about their proposal and to see where we can go from there meanwhile speaker we're very committed to working with all the agencies that support persons with disabilities in Durham region throughout the province and making sure all people with disabilities can reach their full potential thank you speaker my question is for the minister of health and long-term care speaker there is a disaster happening for so many families who are losing their loved ones to fentanyl and opiate overdoses while Ontario track some emergency department admissions for opiate overdoses it's been revealed that this government has no real-time monitoring of overdose death speaker the minister of health of overdose death speaker that means that physician and public health officials are struggling to manage this disaster in the dark with data that is two and sometimes three years old this government needs to do so much more to stop this crisis my question why is this government still not doing real-time monitoring of overdose death across our province thank you well thank you Mr. Speaker and clearly this government is committed to addressing this important issue of opioid abuse and we've already taken important steps in fact this year making naloxone which is a life saver antidote available free of charge at pharmacies without a prescription and other important measures when it comes to real-time data it's critically important that we have that information more than 100 hospitals around the province we automatically receive in real-time information based on triage of overdoses that take place that information is available to the ministry it's available to public health officials as well is there more work that we can do of course there is we're working with the coroner's office as well I actually hope in the coming days and weeks to be able to speak more about this issue Mr. Speaker your supplementary right now the way we have it we have the worst for both worlds family are losing their loved ones to these powerful drugs every day and people are losing their access to these drugs to control their pain we need immediate action from this government to stop this disaster it shouldn't take until 2017 to determine how many people died of overdoses in 2015 we need to understand how big the problem is right now how big is it currently time is of essence speaker people are suffering and people are dying my question is simple will this government commit today to real-time monitoring of all overdosed deaths throughout our province thank you and again I appreciate the question I know that the member opposite appreciates that the coroner is the individual that receives this information when there's a possible death due to an opioid overdose there is the requirement that a death investigation take place by the coroner's office as well this does take some time to accomplish but we're working with his office and we're also looking at other measures that we can take so we can get as much accurate data as soon as humanly possible Mr. Speaker we need to do it in a responsible way but I want to emphasize that that's only one part of the solution I appointed a task force earlier this year to look at how we can further provide supportive measures we need to focus as well on appropriate prescribing education of our health care professionals providing support to those who do find themselves addicted to opiates we're working hard on all of these measures Mr. Speaker and I expect in the coming days we'll have more to speak to Your question to members from the Government of the United States Mr. Speaker through you my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Minister there has been a lot of mention in the news about rabies in regions of southern Ontario area recently my understanding is that these 196 animals have been infected with particular strain of rabies that hasn't been seen in Ontario since 2005 I know my constituents might have questions about how the reemergence of this disease happened and what step Ontario is taking to make sure the strain does not appear spread any further can the Minister share how our ministry and its partners are working to control this outbreak to ensure public awareness of raccoon rabies Thank you Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Thank you Speaker I wish to thank the hardworking member of the government is very committed to protecting the public their pets and their livestock from rabies I want to acknowledge the efforts of the ministries of health and long term care and of agriculture food and rural affairs and helping to inform the public and aiding our investigations so to address this outbreak my ministry regularly distributes baits containing an oral vaccine along the border with the United States in order to prevent infected animals from coming here this reemergence is likely due to an infected animal making its way in on a commercial truck where it sought food and warmth upon discovering the first rabid raccoon in Ontario we elevated those efforts by quickly distributing more than one and a half million vaccines over a large area we've also collected almost 4,000 surveillance samples that indicate that the outbreak has been contained within 45 kilometres of the initial case Thank you Well thank you to the minister for her answer it is good to know that your ministry is responding to this outbreak I know that the last time there was an outbreak of this nature there are tools very limited leading to the calling of many raccoons as a preventive measure it is also reassuring that we now have tools like this like this vaccine that can be more broadly and more humanly used to control the spread of the disease I understand that this product has even been exported to peer jurisdictions in Canada and the US can the minister of vaccines further and perhaps share with us house her plans for further addressing this problem in the future Thank you minister Thank you speaker and I want to again thank the hard working member for Northamperland Quint West for the opportunity to elaborate on Ontario's response to this challenge so this vaccine which is called ONRAB is a made in Ontario solution developed by my ministry industry in Ontario it can vaccinate a high proportion of the foxes, raccoons and skunks that eat it as mentioned baiting is of limited effectiveness during the colder months but when animals emerge for their dens in the spring we'll begin a massive baiting program perhaps upwards of a million such baits depending on what our winter surveillance tells us about the outbreak not only is this more humane and calling strategies it's cheaper and much more effective I want to stress it may take two or more years to ensure we've turned the tide on the outbreak but I'm confident in the response of our partners in the health municipal landowners and trapping communities to manage the challenge Thank you My question today is for the minister of community safety and correctional services on page 11 of the September 22nd edition of the standard guide paper there was an article which stated that the local OPP detachment will close on December 31st of this year this was the first time that my office and members of the public had heard about the significant closure the people of forest and throughout Lampton chores have great respect for the local OPP and I can tell you that a closure of this significance is one that should have been widely announced and considered by the local community minister and for me of the usual practices of public consultation and review when small town and rural OPP detachments are to be closed or as they mention on page 11 of the local newspaper the normal way of proceeding this liberal government Thank you very much I appreciate the question from the member opposite as the member knows the OPP operational matters are a discussion that certainly takes place internally to the OPP so that they can best protect Ontarians I want to first and foremost commend the OPP and our officers in the OPP for the work that they do across the province in keeping Ontarians safe I understand the members concerned with respect to these offices and operational issues these occur from time to time to ensure that the OPP are best positioned to respond to concerns across the province I can tell you whatever protocol you have it wasn't followed this time around. Mr. Speaker back to the minister. Minister my understanding from reading page 11 of the standard guide advocate newspaper is that the officers will be transferred to the petroleum detachment some 35 kilometres away with no public consultation or community buy-in at the level of police services in forests and throughout Lampton County is going to suffer with this rush charge and change can the minister assure my constituents that police services and public safety will not be adversely affected by your closing of the forest OPP detachment thank you very much speaker and I can say unequivocally that any decision that is made by the OPP with respect to operational matters is to ensure the highest level of safety for all Ontarians these types of decisions are operational matters of the OPP they make those decisions periodically speaker to ensure the best response time the best and highest standards of protection for Ontarians so I'm happy to discuss this with the matter with the member opposite after and I look into the matter but what I can tell you speaker today is that the OPP makes a decision around operational matters to ensure the highest protection for residents across the province new question the member from London west thank you speaker my question is to the acting premier an alarming report from the Ontario university and college health association confirms that there is a mental health crisis on Ontario post secondary institutions the president of the association says that lives are at stake in my own community of London the new 24 hour mental health crisis centre has been overwhelmed by college and university students since it opened its doors in January this year it's clear we are at a critical moment the time for a coordinated provincial strategy not just projects is long overdue will the acting premier commit to moving forward with a province wide strategy for mental health services on Ontario campuses thank you acting premier thank you Mr. Speaker to the minister of research innovation minister of research innovation thank you Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the member for advocacy on behalf of our students Mr. Speaker as a former academic myself I have seen firsthand the amount of pressure students in our university and colleges they face they have to meet exams they have to pass courses they are concerned about graduation and finding jobs after graduation forming their own families there is so much pressure including the pressure on the financial matters how they are going to pay for the tuition fee their expenses etc and that's why our government has introduced for example the Ontario student grants in order to help students from low income families to continue their education free in our universities and colleges to release a little bit of that mental pressure from our students and our campuses Mr. Speaker thank you thank you Speaker the results of the 2016 student survey show a significant increase from 2013 when the Liberals first started funding mental health projects on campus 40% of students experienced overwhelming anxiety in the previous year 46% were so depressed in the previous year that it was difficult to function 13% had seriously considered suicide in the previous year 9% had attempted suicide I have been asking this government students have been asking this government to make mental health services on campus a priority now again to the acting premier will he commit today to ensuring that young people struggling with mental health crises don't have to wait for access to the supports and resources they so urgently need Mr. Speaker again I want to thank the member for her advocacy and for the question Mr. Speaker we all know that mental health is a major issue for every person in the society the stats tells us that one out of four people they experience some kind of mental health problem in their lifetime so it's an issue but Mr. Speaker we have got mental health strategy in the problems of Ontario and the part of that strategy is to assist students in our universities and colleges for example we have developed and introduced mental health innovation fund in March 2013 in order to assist our students we have also Mr. Speaker introduced good to talk we have 24 hours a day and 7 days a week program which helps students to get counseling from experts so Mr. Speaker whatever we can answer our students have a very healthy university and college time when they are at the post second day institutions thank you Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker I am very pleased to join the member from Scarborough Asian Court in welcoming grade 6 student Adam Omirati who watched questions period and when I met him this morning he told me that his favorite subject was math so welcome Adam thank you thank you thank you Speaker earlier this morning you made a ruling on a point of privilege and I seek your indulgence just for clarification on that ruling on two elements if you if I may the first element Speaker in my initial notice of the point of privilege I raised two standing orders 21C and 33D and I may be mistaken but I listened intently and I did not hear reference to standing order 33D in your ruling the second element if I could seek clarification not only for myself but I think for all members of the House as you know on Thursday I filed a notice of the point of privilege consistent with the standing orders and and that's a notice of intent and a notice of the point of privilege in all previous practices that I've been engaged in the members then afforded an opportunity to compile the complete arguments and either submit them orally or written or both at the Speaker's prerogative before the ruling is completed and as you're aware I completed my arguments and filed them with you at the beginning of question period but it appears to me that the ruling was done in advance of the arguments and if I could just have clarification on that practice speaker so that if that is the way it is to be done we will do the points of privilege consistent to provide you the clarity all relevant information that was germane to my ruling was mentioned number two I have the standing orders that I quoted that provides me with the opportunity to make that ruling at any time I don't need to have a written submission I can make the ruling on the the initial submission the Minister of Health and long-term care and appointment I wish to correct my record earlier when I referenced the PC leaders relationship with the specialist group concerned doctors of Ontario I said that their communications advisor Dan Robertson was a former staffer in the PC leaders office in fact he is not or was not he is identified by the Globe and Mail as a member of the PC leaders core campaign team thank you there are no further votes this morning so therefore this house stands recess until 1pm this afternoon