 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of the official opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My first question is for the Premier. In the Premier's briefing on the NAFTA renegotiation yesterday, was he updated on the status of the U.S. Steel and aluminum tariffs that are still being applied to Canadian goods? Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker, before I answer the question of the Leader of the Opposition, first, I want to congratulate Dr. Donna Strickland. Dr. Donna Strickland has just been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize for Physics. That's a huge applause. Mr. Speaker, she's the first Canadian woman ever to receive this award and the first woman in 55 years. She teaches at the University of Waterloo and she's from Guelph, Ontario. So, Dr. Donna Strickland, congratulations. Through you, Mr. Speaker, we want to make sure the world knows that Ontario is open for business. That is why our government, the PC government, stood shoulder to shoulder with the federal government when it came to negotiations. We're calling on the Trudeau government to use federal funds to compensate Ontario dairy farmers. We need to support our dairy farmers, we need to support our farmers, our steel and aluminum workers, and to make sure they aren't being used as bargaining chips. I'm asking the Leader of the Opposition and her caucus to stand with us as we stood side by side with the federal government, stand with us to support the farmers, the steel workers, the aluminum workers, to make sure they are compensated by the Trudeau government. Start the clock, supplementary. Well, the tariffs have been in place since June and they're having a devastating effect not just on the steel industry, but on the entire manufacturing sector, Speaker, and the people who rely on that sector for good jobs. They're worried about the future. Across the border in Quebec, the provincial government didn't delay. They stepped up in June with direct financial aid to companies affected by the tariffs. When will the Premier take similar action here? Through you, Mr. Speaker, our number one priority was to make sure we got the deal done. That was critical and I congratulate the federal government for getting the job done. But keep in mind, nearly 9 million Americans' jobs depend on the Canadian and U.S. trade investments. But even more importantly, there's $389 billion of trade going back and forth just between Ontario and the U.S., split almost equally. There is a billion jobs, a million jobs, I wish there was a billion jobs, a million jobs at stake right here in Ontario. And again, I'm asking the leader of the opposition and the caucus, the whole NDP caucus, to stand with us, support the farmers, support the aluminum and steel workers, and we can support them. Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, people worried about losing their shift or losing a job don't want to hear politicians passing the buck when their jobs are at risk and they're worried about the future. In the province of Quebec, the government stepped up. They stepped up with direct financial aid, money for training, for steel, for aluminum and for the agricultural sector. My question to our Premier in this province is, is this Premier willing to step up with provincial assistance? Through you Mr. Speaker and the leader of the opposition, we're still waiting for the federal government to give us some numbers. We're going to be meeting with the agriculture industry this afternoon, looking forward to speaking to them, and then later on in the week we're going to be meeting the steel and aluminum industry. I asked the Prime Minister directly yesterday on the phone, where's the money? Where's the money we're waiting for to support the steel and aluminum workers? And I didn't get a straight answer. I'm looking forward to that straight answer. But I can assure all the agriculture industry, I can assure the steel and aluminum workers that we're standing behind them, unlike the NDP that I didn't see one of them stand up to support any of those industries, I will assure that they will have a close ally and a friend with a PC government. Start the clock. Next question. It's not so, but nonetheless, Speaker, the truth is that in Quebec they had a Premier that did step up, didn't wait around, stepped up and tried to help those issues. That is also to the Premier, though, Speaker, because we are joined today by farmers here in our legislature and for those farmers who have relied on supply management to ensure they can earn a living and pay the bills while they do the hard work of feeding our families, the renegotiated NAFTA is devastating news. What details does the Premier have about the federal compensation that will be offered? Through you, Mr. Speaker, again, if the leader of the opposition actually stood shoulder to shoulder with the PC government, as we did with the Liberal government, we might be able to work a lot better. We need to stand as a united team here in Ontario. We need to have a united team to protect the jobs, go close to the million jobs that all these industries create day in and day out again. I'm asking the NDP to put their partisanship to the side just once, just once, and stand with us. And as for the Premier of Quebec, I spoke to the new Premier of Quebec last night. What a great job he's going to do, and he's looking forward to working with Ontario because he's fiscally responsible just like the... Stop clocking. Supplementary. Well, Speaker, the fact is that many farm families believe that the federal compensation won't be enough and they're asking serious questions, Speaker, serious questions about whether they can keep going as a system that made their farm sustainable is chipped away. Is the Premier prepared to provide additional assistance and programs from the province to ensure that farms are sustainable in the long term? Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker. The Leader of the Opposition, right, it never ends. Fear mongering. The Leader of the Opposition doesn't ever clue what it is because she doesn't know. I don't know because it wasn't told to us yesterday when we were on the call. Matter of fact, no province knows what they have in hand. But I can reassure, again, the farmers, you have an ally. You have a friend. We look forward to sitting down with you this afternoon, but once we do find out that number, I can assure you we're going to support them like they've never seen before. The clock again. Final supplementary. Sure. There are a little bit concerned, Speaker, seeing how the government didn't step up to help the steel and aluminum industries. But farm families are wondering whether they should actually continue in farming or pack it in. People are looking for solutions. Not politicians passing the buck back and forth across the table. This is a chance for the Premier to show leadership in the job that he actually holds. Not waiting for the federal government, but show some leadership in the job that he holds. In other provinces, provincial leaders have stepped up to the plate. Will we see that leadership from this Premier? Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker, I find it so ironic listening to the Leader of the Opposition. When I was in Hamilton over at the Fasco right down the street where the Leader lives, I heard how we helped them. We got rid of the cap and trading the carbon tax. We talked to their employers. They said they haven't talked to the frontline workers and they loved it that I showed up. Maybe the Leader of the Opposition should pay him a visit once in a while in her own backyard. Once again, I'm going to remind the House that personal attacks of any sort do not elevate the debate. Next question. Leader of the Opposition, start the clock. Next question is also for the Premier. The opioid crisis is killing people on a daily basis. Families with loved ones caught in addiction know that overdose prevention sites save lives. The Minister of Health had promised that the Premier would make a decision about proceeding with overdose prevention sites by the end of last week. Instead, we see more delay and more excuses and tragically more preventable deaths. When will this Premier stop dithering and make a decision? Premier. Minister of Community and Social Services. Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Thank you very much, Speaker. I appreciate the question from the member opposite. But let me be perfectly clear. The Minister of Health has received an extension on three-pause sites. They received that extension from the federal government. But this government, and I want to be very clear, we are committed to getting people struggling with addiction the help that they need. That's why this government will be making an unprecedented $3.8 billion in the last several years, knows that we have been a leader in the fight against opioids in this province, calling for a task force that the previous government took nine months. If you want to talk about delay, it was the previous Liberal administration that didn't get the job done. We were leaders on banning the pill press, and that's something that we've talked about. We've talked about NICS law, making sure that there's more awareness and greater advertising against the opioid crisis. So I'll stand here on behalf of the Minister of Health and tell them that we're ready and committed to doing the work this month. Next question, or rather. Thank you, Speaker. What the Minister failed to talk about is the $330 million cut in mental health and addiction finances. A single day that this decision is delayed, it means more people are dying. And when people are no longer alive, they cannot seek treatment, Speaker. The evidence is overwhelming. These sites are saving lives. What evidence is the Premier waiting for? Minister. I fairly reject the premise of the Leader of the Official Opposition's question. This government is going to bring in an unprecedented level of funding for mental health, addictions and supportive housing to the tune of $3.8 billion. Distantly, meeting and Tory across the province to those and Speaker, we have hit the pause button on three injection sites. The federal government has allowed that extension, and we are committed on this side of the House in ensuring that we have the broader support for those people who are struggling with mental health and addictions. Member for Hastings, Lennox and Addington. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job, Creation and Trade. Yesterday, the United States, Canada and Mexico agreed to a new trade agreement called the USMCA. The new agreement included major, major concessions from Canada's agricultural industry on Class 7 milk increased access to Ontario's dairy, chicken and egg market. One thing is clear, Mr. Speaker. Ontario's dairy, chicken and egg farmers are the ones that are on the hook for this federal government's negotiation position. So, could the Minister please inform this legislature today of what our government for the people is doing to stand up for this very, very critical part of Ontario's agricultural industry? Minister of Economic Development, Job, Creation and Trade. Thank you to my honourable colleague for the question. For months now, Ontario has been working with the federal government, going down to Washington, and standing up for Ontario workers, Ontario farmers, steel workers, aluminum workers. And we were disappointed yesterday that the federal government, everyone's known that dairy's been on the table for a while, didn't have any details of a compensation package ready. It was unacceptable, as one of my colleagues just said. It was shocking, and it's also shocking that they left the steel and aluminum tariffs on the table, Mr. Speaker, because while they might have a new NAFTA here, the U.S. still has the ability to put tariffs on anything they want in the future, therefore making the new NAFTA practically useless. So it's steel and aluminum today. It could be something else in the future, depending on what the flavour of the month is down there. So we call upon the federal government to come forward immediately with the details in the compensation to our dairy industry. We need to make dairy, poultry and eggs whole again. We need to save the 3,600 family farms that are active in the dairy industry in Ontario, and that's what we're going to do, Mr. Speaker. We're going to stand up for Ontario farmers. Supplementary, start the clock. Mr. Speaker, thank you so kind of for your response and your affirmative action on this file. It's a relief to hear that really our government continues to do it prior to defend this important part of agricultural community. And the many, many families that depend on this. This is just not an industry. This is a group of families across this province. And we're aware, of course, as well as the minister testified at the U.S. Department of Commerce public hearings on section 32, which is the investigation of imports on autos and auto parts. And despite reaching an agreement on principle the other day, discussions around steel and aluminum have been inconclusive. We have heard that. 25% tariffs on steel and 10% tariffs on aluminum still remain in place. So could the minister please inform this legislature of our government's position on these tariffs that continue to actually penalize Ontario's industry? Mr. Speaker, thank you again to my colleague for an excellent question. As I said in the first part of my answer, while the threat of tariffs remains, after you can drive a Mack truck through it, they solved for a time being the threat of auto tariffs and auto parts tariffs. And then they say to us on the phone premier yesterday that section 232 tariffs on aluminum steel and God knows what else in the future are separate issues. Well, they're not separate issues. The technical briefing then at one o'clock said they had tried to discuss that at the table, but were rejected. The U.S. didn't want to. They want to keep hanging this over our heads. Well, if they keep hanging this over our heads, thousands and thousands of people on this side of the border will be affected. Their jobs could be affected and millions on the other side of the border. And so we're asking the NDP today to stand with us to stop putting down the police and stand up for workers. Once again, I'll remind members that these kinds of personal attacks lead to a degeneration of the debate. We don't want to go there like we did last week. House will come to order. Order. Order. I start the clock. Next question. Member for Tomiskaming Cochran. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. All farmers are impacted by trade deals. The new NAFTA agreement will have a major impact on dairy and poultry sectors and everyone else involved in the industry, including processors. It was signed by the federal government, but agriculture is one of the sectors that has federal provincial responsibility. Under the deal for dairy, class 7 of milk was eliminated. The classes are regulated provincially under the Milk Act. That's not a federal issue. And the elimination of class 7 could have a much bigger destabilizing impact than the loss of market access, which should be compensated. But the destabilization could permanently damage supply management. What is the provincial government going to do to stabilize the industry because of the elimination of class 7, which is a provincial responsibility? Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the member for the question. I know many Ontarians, including our agriculture communities, are concerned about what the new USMCA deal could mean for industries that rely on trade. We're still reviewing what the impact of these changes will be, including the class 7. However, it's clear that the concessions made in the new agreement will hurt our supply-managed sector, particularly the dairy. We have reached out to our stakeholders and are committed to continue to work with them as we determine the details of the impact of this new deal. We're calling on the Chudeau government to use federal funds to compensate dairy farmers. This new deal cannot leave our farmers behind. Farming jobs and farming families must never be used as bargaining chips. From day one, we have offered full support for our farmers. Our Premier and our Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade traveled to Washington to raise the concerns and make sure our farmers are top of mind. We will continue to stand by... Thank you. Thank you. Supplementary. The long-term stability of our dairy farm families relies on the stability of our milk classification process. The elimination of class 7 destabilizes that process. The classification system is a provincial responsibility. This isn't about federal compensation, which is a totally separate issue. This is about the provincial responsibility to maintain the stability of the system on which farmers and Ontario consumers and Canadian consumers have relied on for over 50 years. Again, to the Minister, what action is the government going to take to stabilize the milk classes so supply management can continue to exist? Thank you, Speaker. Minister. Well, thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And again, thank the member for the question. And as I said, we are continuing to review the impact of this new deal in its entirety and its impact on our dairy industry. That includes class 7. The issues in that deal are negotiated by the federal government, and the responsibility to look after that is the responsibility of the federal government. And so that's why we need to make sure we review the process and then make sure the federal government deals with the financial assistance to our farmers in a way that deals with all the impacts they have created through this negotiation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Attorney General. Yesterday an article in The Toronto Sun reported that over the last five years, gun violence and murders have spiked across the greater Toronto area. The article stated that shootings are up more than 130% from just a few years ago, and with three months remaining in 2018, the city is expected to smash its all-time record high of 89 homicides set back in 1991. The article also found that not since 2007 has Toronto seen so many killings in a single year. Mr. Speaker, the people of my riding and all throughout the GTA are understandably concerned about the levels of violence experienced in our city this year. Could the Minister please share with us the work this government is currently doing to stop gun violence in Toronto? Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the member from Mississaugas Cooksville for that thoughtful question. No one should have to live in fear of gun violence, and our hearts go out to the many people across the city and this province who have been affected by violent gun crime, which is why in August our government announced that it is taking action to protect families by investing $25 million in new funding over four years in initiatives aimed at fighting gang and gun violence. This includes investing over $7 million over the next four years in a brand new intensive firearm bail support team, which will support existing justice resources. The team will consist of five crowns and five case management coordinators who will work with police to develop local expertise and compile information to ensure that the strongest possible evidence is placed before the courts when the crown is seeking detention for serious firearm charges. Having dedicated crowns to focus on firearm bails will help keep people who presented danger to the public off our streets. Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to report that as of yesterday the team is up and running. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the Attorney General for that update. I agree that it's important that people feel safe in their communities and I'm glad that our government is taking action to ensure that is the case. There have been too many tragic headlines over the past year and I look forward to the success of this initiative as well as all efforts aimed at curbing gun violence. Mr. Speaker, the Attorney General has given us good news with the announcement that our legal SWAT teams are now in place and I'm hoping that she can provide further information on how they will assist in keeping violence off our streets. Thank you. The Attorney General. Mr. Speaker, I'm very happy to provide further information to the member and to his constituents. On August 4th, I stood with the Premier and the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services to announce this initiative and yesterday I met with the team and I can tell you that they're enthusiastic about getting to work and putting a dent in gun violence experienced in this city this year. It was our aim to have this team up and running in six to eight weeks and Mr. Speaker, yesterday was their first day on the job. They're stationed at courthouses across the city and moving where they need to go on a daily basis. They're working with the police to ensure that the best possible evidence is before the courts during a bail hearing. It's an innovative approach that will deliver real results to tackle gun crime in the city of Toronto. Next question, the member for Toronto, Dan Ford. Thank you, Speaker. My question to the Minister of the Environment. Ontario is facing potential for many billions of dollars of damages and potential loss of life from climate change-related extreme weather events in the years to come. Cap and trade funds were raised to reduce emissions from greenhouse sources. The projects were meant to help protect Ontarians for the future. But when the government wound down Cap and trade, they cancelled many initiatives that would have helped reduce emissions, including hundreds of millions of dollars for hospital, school and social housing upgrades. It was not necessary to cancel those initiatives. So can the government inform the House as to what they will be using the Cap and trade funds for, if not for reducing emissions? Mr. Speaker, through you to the member and thank you for the question. He's quite right that this government did make a clear commitment in the election, that it would wind down the Cap and trade program. One of the first actions of this government was to do that and as a result, we're putting $260 back in the pockets of Ontario families. He raises the question about Cap and trade funds. Some of the Cap and trade funds that were going to be spent, for example, were on an electric truck company that's backed by Warren Buffett and Chinese billionaires. We decided those weren't good things to spend money on that Ontario taxpayers were subsidizing. The monies that have been raised, have been raised under a charge that was appropriately for greenhouse gas reduction. The funds that were raised for that will be used either to fight greenhouse gas reductions or for the wind down of that fund, as I've said before. Thank you. Supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. The minister says the funds meant to be spent to reduce emissions will be spent for that purpose. That's what he says. Then why did the government cut funding for schools and hospitals when those projects would have cut emissions? Minister. Mr. Speaker, I don't know entirely what funds the members talking about, but let's tell what we did, which was responsible. The responsible thing to do, Mr. Speaker, when we canceled the Cap and trade program because it was ineffective, was to cut the funding, remove the dollars that were being spent, that were raised by that order. It was the only responsible thing the government... Member for Waterloo, come to order. Premier, come to order. The only responsible thing that the government could do at the end of that... Here, come to order. You committed to the orderly wind-down of the Cap and trade program, and this fall we'll talk about a made in Ontario solution, a solution that doesn't take money out of Ontario's pockets, but reduces greenhouse gases. Question, the member for Don Valley East. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Bill 148 brought in fair and important changes to the Employment Standards Act for workers in this province. Mr.... Government side, come to order. Mr. Speaker, I think it's reasonable that workers be given fair notice or compensation when their employer cancels their shift. It allows employees to have some stability in their schedule if they're going to school, to ensure that they have adequate childcare, and if they're working a second job. But Mr. Speaker, we've heard from the Premier, or we've heard from this government, that they're considering rolling back these changes in addition to cancelling a $15 minimum wage. Does the Premier believe that it's fair that work can be done and work can be cancelled only hours before a shift with no compensation? And my question to the speaker, my question through you, Mr. Speaker, to the Premier, will he commit today to not rolling back this important aspect within the legislation? Premier? Through you, Mr. Speaker. When I traveled across this province and talked to thousands and thousands of people, I found out very, very quickly that number one issue was high. Well, number two was bill 148 that your party destroyed this province and put us in more debt than we've ever had along the subnational debt in the entire world thanks to the Liberal government. We're going to make sure we tell the world Ontario is open for business. We're going to make sure we're competitive around the world. We're getting rid of bill 148. We're going to make sure we protect the frontline workers because 60,000 people lost their jobs under bill 148. So there's going to be certain aspects that we disagree with 148, certain aspects of the bill, but let me try another point to this question, Mr. Speaker. Premier? I hesitate to interrupt the member. The government side has to come to order. The member has a right to place his question. Again, I apologize to the member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I'm going to ask a very simple question to the Premier. 1.6 million Ontarians do not have sick days. In the legislation, it guarantees two days to Ontarians. Mr. Speaker, this is about decency for employees. Employees that work hard to support businesses here in the province of Ontario. And I think when those people go out, that 1.6 million Ontarians go out and support businesses, the businesses should support the people that support those businesses. Does the Premier believe that two sick days is too much for people in Ontario? He says he stands up for the little guy. He says he stands up for the people of Ontario. Two sick days is decency, Mr. Speaker. Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker, and to the member of Don Valley East. Again, when I crisscross this province, and I talk to the people that earn minimum wage, the ones that even were able to keep their job at going to the little home hardware, rather than having seven employees, they cut three employees because of Bill 148. And the people on minimum wage, we're actually going to give them a tax credit. Unlike the Liberals that jacked their taxes off over a thousand supporting minimum wage workers, and we're going to create more jobs until we can hire more people. Unlike the Liberals that destroyed this province. Next question. The member for Peterborough Corritha. Mr. Speaker, whether or not to the member from Nipissing, my question is to the Minister of many things, including children, community and social services. More than 34,000 illegal border crossers have entered our country since 2017. Overloading our housing and social assistance systems, so much so that the federal government is forced to put them in hotels across the GTA. Today, we learned that their stays being extended by four weeks while they wait for their silent claims to be heard. Meanwhile, the federal minister responsible has tried to tell us that the overwhelming majority have left Canada. Pure fiction costs are piling up. Would the minister please tell us how Ontario will handle the growing financial burden to services such as education, legal aid, social assistance and emergency shelter? Response, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. My greatest appreciation to the member opposite who I've been speaking with on immigration and refugee issues for the past week. I want to be very clear, and I hope the federal Liberals are listening, that the federal government has sole jurisdiction over border management in this country on Canada's asylum and refugee programs, including who is eligible to make a refugee claim. The federal government's failed policies at the border in Quebec have allowed people to enter this country illegally and then seek asylum without following the proper processes. This government, the board government, has called on the federal government to actively manage the influx of illegal border crossers and to provide full compensation to the province of Ontario at the tune of $200 million. And those concerns and those questions, and there has been no indication that the federal government will pay for it. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the minister for her detailed answer. I understand the cost Ontario faces. The minister has been perfectly clear in this house. Some would say crystal clear, with the federal ad hoc committee on migration, with the minister of immigration on the $200 million that's owed to Ontario. Mr. Speaker, the stack of bills is mounting. The ministry for children, community and social services still needs to pay for its priorities. Programs for autistic children, funding for the children's aid society, youth and care, custody and so much more. Does the minister believe that the costs for illegal border crossings are increasing and in light of the state of the deficit and the results from the line by line audit, do these escalating costs concern the minister? Minister. More to say on some of the extensive costs that we're starting to see as a result of kids going back to school in September. But let me be clear, the federal government should be compensating Ontario for $74 million and growing in temporary housing in the city of Toronto, $11 million and growing in the city of Ottawa for temporary shelters, $3 million has been given to the Red Cross, $20 million for primary secondary education spaces, and $90 million and growing on the social assistance rates. Our government isn't the only ones that are concerned. There's a new government elected in Quebec that is in line with where we're at in telling the federal government that they have to pay their bills. And we also have all premiers across this great country that have lined up shoulder to shoulder with our premier in saying that the federal government should fully compensate the costs of the province. And that's not it. The federal liberal MP that says the only fair thing for everybody to do is process them quickly and I think that's where the government's weakness is. That's John McKay, a federal liberal. Start the clock. Member for Davenport. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. It's now October and students have been taught an archaic curriculum for one month now. A curriculum that does not address the current realities that Ontario students are facing. Teachers, students, concerned parents to name a few have literally stood on the lawns of Queens Park speaking out against this sex ed curriculum rollback. But it is painfully clear that this government has not been listening to them. And then last Friday, the government quietly released a predetermined form online that appears to be this government's version of the largest consultation in Ontario's history. And then the minister said the government will only be promoting the consultations within their regions. So which is it? Will we be seeing consultations in every riding in the province or will the government only be picking and choosing which voices they feel like hearing? Minister of Education. Well thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I can tell you we are very assertively addressing the archaic math curriculum that's out there. We heard loud and clear that from parents that the math was not cutting it. And our consultation is going to be very comprehensive starting off with hearing from parents hearing from teachers hearing from businesses how we can better equip our students to be competitive in today's global economy. I can tell you that people attending our guest today in the members gallery will be applauding us for taking a look at steps, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Everything that the agri-food and the business of food in particular need to be competitive in today's global economy. We are moving forward and I invite every single member in this house to participate and read your mail. You receive information on Friday. Start the clock supplementary. Friday Mr. Speaker we're actually the school boards right? The public didn't find out anything but Mr. Speaker back to the Minister of Education that was an incredible non-answer. I suspect that perhaps she's feeling a little ashamed looking up to the table Minister, students and teachers must be consulted. Indigenous youth must be consulted queer and trans youth differently abled youth. They must be responsible of this government to make decisions without listening to those who are going to be the most impacted. Mr. Speaker why is this government trying to handpick who will be involved in the sex ed consultations to be afraid of hearing? Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I would suggest to everyone in the house today watching this is a lesson and not what to do. This is a lesson on how not to stand up and be poor opposition. We need to have an opposition that stands with us and go back because she was absolutely incorrect in saying that the members have not received information. I can confirm 100% that everybody received information about this consultation on Friday. We're very proud to be embarking on an initiative that's going to invite business, parents, teachers sports, trustees every single person who wants to exercise their voice about STEM, about job skills about medical health and physical education. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker and my question is to the Minister of Finance Minister when I listen to your speech on the findings of the Independent Financial Commission of Inquiry like most Ontarians I was truly shocked to hear the reality of the province's financial situation clearly our government needs to take action to fix the financial problems that we have inherited from the previous government but we must also determine how the situation was ever allowed to get this bad that's why I am encouraged that the motion to form a select committee on financial transparency was passed this morning could the Minister please reiterate the importance of the select committee on financial transparency that is being formed Minister of Finance member from Glambrook this morning we took the next step in restoring accountability and trust in government the formation of the select committee on financial transparency solidifies our government's commitment to restoring the public's faith we must remember we are in unprecedented time in history the public's trust has been shattered the previous government's accounting scheme was deliberately designed to keep the true cost of the Liberals spending off the books this is simply unacceptable the select committee on financial transparency is a necessity they will find up speaker find out speaker who came up with this scheme where's the money thank you Mr. Speaker back to the Minister I really encourage that we are taking action to restore accountability and trust and I'm confident that the select committee on financial transparency will discover where these schemes came from and hold those responsible to account however over the past week many of our critics have claimed that the select committee isn't necessary the naysayers and critics have shrugged off its importance but there is a larger principle that is accountability it's unfortunate some people simply don't recognize the importance of seeking accountability could the Minister please inform the House why restoring accountability and trust is so important for our government Minister thank you Speaker and thank you to the member the importance of restoring accountability and trust cannot be understated remember it was the auditor general who used words and I'm going to quote her like conceal bogus, deceptive and unreliable she used those words to describe liberal documents tabled right here in this legislature the auditor general also issued this warning to the people of Ontario again I quote when governments pass legislation to make their own accounting rules that serve to obfuscate the impact of their financial decision their financial statements become unreliable that is why accountability and trust need to be restored it was absent in the previous government Speaker we can calculate the cost of the deficit but we cannot calculate the cost of the trust deficit start the clock member for Hamilton West and Castro Dundas my question this morning is for the minister for seniors in accessibility this government recently made a decision to ignore the concerns of both investors investment regulators and seniors advocate groups such as a Canadian association of retired persons who call for the banning of deferred sales charges on mutual funds Mr. Speaker people across our province struggle to save and put a little money aside for their retirement and these deferred charges are an unnecessary and extra burden on these people so why is this government ignoring the voices of seniors and people who are saving for their retirement Minister responsible for seniors in accessibility thank you for the question I'd like to refer the question to the minister of finance minister of finance thank you our government is absolutely committed to making Ontario a competitive place a place that we can invest in grow and create jobs and we want the world to know that Ontario is open for business we will continue to work with other provinces other territories other stakeholders to explore potential alternatives outside of the measures of the Ontario security commission what they are proposing is one thing we will continue to work with our partners to look for other proposals we want the market to be a fair place for investors thank you complimentary Mr. Speaker back to the minister for seniors in accessibility Mr. Speaker if this government won't listen to our own seniors and groups like Carp who say that deferred sales charges mean Ontarians will not be able to invest or fund their retirement effectively will they listen to investment regulators such as the Canadian security commission and the Ontario security commission who study these charges and they have long described these fees as bad for investors or is this really about making money Mr. Speaker thank you very much but I won't thank the member for the insult to our party whatsoever I do find those types of comments are not helpful in this legislature she's not only impugning motive she doesn't have her facts right Mr. Speaker the member should understand what the deferred commissions she may want to study what happened in the UK with embedded commissions and how this did not work she may need to do a little bit of studying of other embedded commissions and the damage that it caused elsewhere throughout the world and begin to understand that we're trying to consult with the other provinces the other territories and other stakeholders to make sure that our marketplace is a fair place Mr. Speaker we've got the people of all of the people in mind as we continue to look for a better way next question the member for Scarborough Agent Court Mr. Speaker my question today is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Mr. Speaker Ontario's dedicated correctional officers and the staff have faced a significant amount of work related to the previous liberal governments neglect and their failure to act in providing these men and women with the tools they need to perform their duties safely and effectively after 15 years of mismanagement by the previous liberal government our dedicated correctional officers and the staff would ignore for too long Speaker the safety of our hard working and dedicated correctional officers will no longer be ignored to the Minister can you please update the members of this legislator on what you are doing to enhance security and improve safety in Ontario's correctional system Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member for Scarborough Agent Court for the question Mr. Speaker this past Friday I was proud to stand alongside the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and the member from Chatham Kent Leamington to announce our governments new plan to enhance safety and security at Elgin Middle Sex Detention Centre Mr. Speaker as the member stated the previous liberal government failed to act and left our correctional officers and staff in harm's way for over 15 years prior to this announcement I visited the City of London and heard first hand the challenges that frontline officers and staff are encountering at Elgin Middle Sex Detention Centre as well as the challenges being faced by police and community members in the city Our government is listening and remains committed to providing our hard working and dedicated correctional officers and staff the necessary tools and resources they need to do their jobs properly Thank you Supplementary Mr. Speaker I want to thank Mr. Speaker for his response I am proud to stand here today knowing that our government for the people is taking the safety and the security of our correctional officers and staff seriously Speaker Our hard working and dedicated correctional staff deserve better after 15 long years of mismanagement and neglect by the previous liberal government Speaker Can the Minister please explain the actions he is taking to address the safety of our neighbourhoods and security of the provinces hard working and dedicated correctional officers and staff Minister Thank you Mr. Speaker and I thank the member for that question In response to the recent inmate overdoses at Elgin Middle Sex Detention Centre our government introduced enhanced safety and security measures so that our correctional officers and staff can perform their duties safely and effectively Mr. Speaker as of yesterday staff at EMDC will have access to a dedicated canine unit additional correctional officers enhanced body scanner training and new drug detection kits to quickly identify whether a found substance is contraband In addition Mr. Speaker we have a hospital escort team for inmate healthcare needs our government also plans on hiring more healthcare staff to support inmate care enhancing staff training to recognize the signs of potential overdoses response piloting an ion scanner that can identify trace elements of drugs on items that enter our facilities Mr. Speaker we are using evidence based on Thank you Mr. Speaker Black Creek Thank you Mr. Speaker My question is for the Minister of Government and Consumer Services Now that John Tavares is on the leafs roster we all know Thank you We all know there will be a Stanley Cup in Toronto next year You heard it here first but there is a but after reading investigative reports that have shocked sports and music fans not only in Canada but the United States as well it's clear that most hockey fans in my riding won't be able to afford Maple Leaf tickets This is because of unethical ticket scalping practices that have been not only tolerated but enabled by Ticketmaster What is the Minister doing on unethical and unfair sales practices Minister of Government and Consumer Services Well thanks very much to the member opposite for the question Finally we found something that we can agree on with the NDP I couldn't be happier that John Tavares is a member of the buds here in Toronto this year We commence on our Stanley Cup Parade I can tell you that what was happening previously was that our government on the ticket sale issue wasn't actually helping those who wanted to attend sporting events and concerts and other big events that were happening This first came to light when the unfortunate diagnosis of Gord Downey of the tragically hip occurred and the government made some changes to the Ticket Speculation Act during that summer and the Attorney General here in Ontario making sure that we bring in some legislation that has some teeth so we can keep ticket prices low for those who want to attend these events Supplement teeth One of the very first things this government did when an assumed office was to block legislation that would have stopped scalpers from selling tickets for more than 50% of the face value I don't remember the Premier telling anyone before the election he would do this Why was it suddenly the government's top priority after the election to help Ticketmaster and the scalpers while hurting music fans and hockey fans Minister Speaker I should acknowledge as well that this is the first question from my critic and I appreciate the question in the legislature this morning but I should say that what the Liberals used to do in the government of Ontario was they would bring in pieces of legislation that actually were just all about fluff they made you feel like the government was actually doing something when clearly the legislation didn't do anything to attack the problem at hand and that was ensuring that ticket prices remained affordable for the average person across the province what we've done is we've paused the implementation to bring in legislation that's going to take these scalpers off the streets that's going to take these scalpers offline it's not just simply putting it down on a piece of paper that you're going to bring in legislation you actually have to have legislation that's enforceable we're bringing in meaningful legislation for the people of Ontario Start the clock next question member for Niagara West Tourism culture and sport this past Monday the Minister for Tourism Culture and Sport visited the Niagara region and engaged with stakeholders on red tape reduction and tourism the wine culinary and agritourism industries are a growing and key component of tourism in Ontario adding good jobs to our economy especially in the Niagara region I'm proud to call home so could the Minister please explain to the House what steps our premier and government are taking to making sure that Niagara and Ontario is finally open for business Minister of Tourism Culture thank you for the question and thank you for participating in the roundtable yesterday it was very valuable because there is no doubt that our Niagara region is a success story we have some incredible businesses that are doing great work but we need to do better as a government and part of the roundtables goal was to listen to those stakeholders listen to those agribusinesses listen to those tourism operators who are in the red tape blocking their ability to expand we want to make sure that Ontario is open for business and yesterday was the first good step towards that goal thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you that all of our caucus and cabinet colleagues have to deal with, whether it's municipal affairs and housing, whether it's infrastructure, finance. All of us need to work together to make sure that the regulations that are in place are protecting our people and our business, but also that the regulations make sense. And it was enlightening and very helpful to have those stakeholders share very specific examples of how we can do better. And I can assure the member that with his help and with our government open for business, we will do that. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Speaker, Sunrise Place Non-profit Housing Co-op is a vibrant 58-unit seniors building in my riding. Sunrise has to replace their makeup air unit, which brings in fresh air from outside. It would improve air quality and reduce energy. The cost of replacement is $105,000. Sunrise applied for the green on social housing grant and was successful. Unfortunately, as of July 9, this grant has now been canceled and with it the money for Sunrise. Does this government want seniors in Oshawa to be able to breathe easily, and will this government reinstate the grant to cover the cost of the air quality unit? Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Mr. Speaker, through you to the member, and I appreciate the question. As I've said before in this legislature, when our government was elected on the basis of getting rid of the cap-and-trade program, responsibly we also needed to wind down the cost of the various items that were being paid for by that program. And so very early we announced to transfer partners that we would be doing that. It's being wound down in a very orderly fashion. We're working with the various organizations that were transfer partners. In some cases because the contracts have been signed, programs are going forward. In the cases where they're not, the responsible thing because the program has been ended is not to proceed with that program. This is because we believe that affordability is a critical issue. We believe that putting $260 back in the pockets of every family is an important item. We believe that reducing gas prices and natural gas prices are the priority and that is the approach we've taken. Supplementary. Thank you. And again to the minister, one of the Premier's first priorities was to cancel support for green initiatives, improvements and repairs across our communities. This government canceled the green on social housing grant and so now Sunrise Place seniors co-op has had to cancel their plans to install this necessary air quality unit. This government cut this grant and seems proud of that decision, but our seniors need to live in helpful environments. Sunrise reached out directly to the Premier's office and has heard nothing back. So I'll ask the minister today for them. Will this government work with Sunrise to ensure they can move ahead with their building improvement plans? Minister? Through you to the member, with the end of cap and trade also came the end of that program. This is a government that is enormously sensitive to seniors and to all of our citizens in the Durham region. That's one of the reasons that we did not proceed with the NDP's plan to close the Pickering Nuclear Power Plan, which would have affected 7,000 people. So Mr. Speaker, the people of Ontario can count on this government to respect seniors, to respect all taxpayers, to behave responsibly with our finances and obviously to balance the needs of a healthy environment as well. Thank you. Thank you. That concludes the time we have this morning for Question Period. I want to recognize the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on a point of order. Thank you, Speaker. Point of order. I want to introduce to you and through you to members of the Legislative Assembly a very special guest in the public gallery, my daughter Caitlin Clark. Once again, the Minister? Speaker, I also have another introduction today. We have the father of Page Captain Victoria McLeod Varner in the public gallery. I know her mother gets lots of opportunities to speak, but I wanted to introduce her father, Joe Varner. Welcome to the audience. This house stands in recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon.