 It's now time for a question period, the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Thank you Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Premier. Premier, you've ignored the dire financial warnings from economists, opposition members, and credit rating agencies, but perhaps you simply need to hear from a member of your own caucus about the seriousness of the credit downgrade to sway you from sending Ontario back into a recession. In regards to Ontario's credit rating, I admit it's back in 1994, but it was a wise remark all the same. The member for York Centre stated, this is a very serious indictment of the government's fiscal order and policies. And unless the province gets its fiscal house in order, we will see more serious repercussions to the detriment of all Ontario citizens. Premier, members of your own caucus understand that the path you're taking is putting frontline services at risk. Will you again reconsider putting forward a budget you're planning to put forward and reconsider before we get a credit downgrade? If I heard the Leader of the Opposition correctly, he said that was a quote from 1994. So we're in 2014 Mr. Speaker, and we have brought forward a plan to the people of Ontario. We will reintroduce a budget on Monday that will lay out that plan again. And we will, if the budget is passed in the legislature, we will move to implement that plan. And that plan focuses on the investments that we know are needed in order for the economy to thrive. Investments like infrastructure, public transit, roads, bridges, the kinds of investments that the member for Wellington, Halton Hills was talking about in his statement a couple of days ago, Mr. Speaker. The kinds of investments that every member in this legislature knows are necessary in their communities in order for their communities to thrive. That's the foundation of our plan, Mr. Speaker. And I know we have a fundamental disagreement with the Leader of the Opposition. Supplementary? Well, I remind the Premier that Mike Harris was gone 11 years ago and you keep quoting him. I have a fundamental disagreement on infrastructure. We had 2.9 built into our plan, our financial plan to balance the budget should we have formed the government after the last election. You have 2.9 billion a year, the same as we did. The roads have to be paved, the hospitals have to be built, the schools have to be built and maintained. We agree with that. That's a very small part of your spending. What we have a fundamental difference is you're continuing to go on a wild spending spree on the operating side. Jackman says that if we get the downgrade, which mostly everyone is expecting except you, if we get that downgrade, a 1% increase in interest rates could cost us, would cost us, over $3 billion a year. $3 billion that will force you, if you don't change course, to cut front-line services like health education. There's no other type of mathematical equation possible. So will you change course, rethink your budget, we won't criticize you, and make sure that we don't get a credit downgrade. Thank you. It's hard to come down as somebody when you make me laugh later. The member from Prince Edward Hastings, the member from Bruce Grio and Sound, the minister without portfolio, and the minister of agriculture, come to order, please. You just did, now it's two. Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So we've talked about the investments, whether it's in infrastructure, whether it's in the talent and skills of our people, Mr. Speaker, whether it's in partnering with businesses. Those are investments that are necessary. The other side of the plan, Mr. Speaker, is the path to balance. It is a recognition that we have a fiscal challenge that we have to confront. And that path to balance is laid out in our budget that we will reintroduce on Monday. So for the leader of the opposition to suggest that we are not paying attention to that, it's just not true, Mr. Speaker, we absolutely are. But what we're not going to do is what he has suggested, what his party suggested during the election, Mr. Speaker, we're not going to cut and slash across government. We're not going to cut education, we're not going to cut healthcare, we're not going to cut deeply into the services that people need. We are going to make sure that children in this province have full-day kindergarten, that there is more home care, Mr. Speaker, that personal support workers are able to do the work that we know is necessary to transform the healthcare system. Those are the challenges. Thank you. Final supplementary. Well, Premier, with the debt as large as the one that your government has created, Ontario will be in real trouble if we continue in the direction that you're going. And the frontline services we depend on across the province will be affected at some point in time. The member or your member for Mississauga Arendelle understands this when he said that this accumulating debt is an unfair burden on our children and grandchildren, a burden we must address for our immediate and future economic prosperity. Premier, your permanent increases to Ontario's operating costs will have severe implications to our credit rating, our ability to pay down the debt, and our capacity to continue delivering frontline services. So I'm going to ask you again, will you change direction, take your time, fix the budget? Because there's no evidence in the budget you presented on May 1st that you're ever going to balance the book. Not by 2017, not by 2017, 2018. There is no evidence that you're ever aiming to balance the book. Show us the evidence or fix your budget so we don't get it down there. Thank you, Premier. Well, it's just not true that there's no evidence that we will be able to eliminate the deficit. In fact, we're on target to eliminate the deficit by 2017-18, Mr. Speaker. We have met our deficit reduction targets every single year. We are the leanest per capita spending government in the country, Mr. Speaker. And we are going to continue to have those constraints in place. But I would just ask the leader of the opposition to consider the impact. And, you know, he talked about Mike Harris and the reason that we continue to talk about Mike Harris, quite apart from the fact that the platform that they ran on was totally reminiscent of Mike Harris. But the reason we talk about that is because the impact of the cuts that he put in place have had long-term influence on the economy of the province and on the societal fabric, Mr. Speaker. So if we do not, Mr. Speaker, if we do not invest in home care, if we do not have full-day kindergarten for every child across the province, Mr. Speaker, if we do not make the changes in health care that are necessary, I would ask him to consider what the future looks like if we don't make those investments, Mr. Speaker. And I would suggest that the future would be... A member from Synco North to come over please. I'm not asking for discussion. New question, the member from Niki and Carlton. She wants to talk about what the future will look like. Let's talk about the past decade. Over the past 11 years, our finances in this province have deteriorated. You have doubled the debt and you have lost hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs. And we are now a have-not province. And prep-rated agencies are now telling us that we are going to see a downgrade that's inevitable. Right now, the government borrows $11 billion a year just to pay interest on its debt. That is the third largest spending priority of that government. So think about it this way. To the members opposite, I say to you, every single dollar you spend on servicing the debt and the deficit is a dollar less for a hospital in our province or for kids in our classrooms. So I ask the Premier, will the government do the responsible thing, refocus its budget, heed economists' warning and ensure that we have the sustainability for our value of public services. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, again, I would say to the member opposite, and I know that the President of the Treasury Board is going to want to comment in the supplementary. But Mr. Speaker, let me just say this, that I'm happy to talk about the last decade. Let's talk about the way we are. We have improved in terms of students graduating from high school. When we came into office, Mr. Speaker, 68% of young people were graduating from high school. 83% of students are graduating from high school. Teachers, Mr. Speaker, to suggest that somehow that has to do with making high school easier. That's not the case, Mr. Speaker. What it's about is putting the supports in place that allow kids to succeed and not letting people fall through the cracks. That's what we have done over the last ten years, Mr. Speaker. Those are the kinds of initiatives and investments that we will continue to make because we know that that leads to a bright future for the province. Before I start the clock, I'm going to make a comment. I've tried a comrade way to ask you to come to order, and that's not working, so I'm going to jump right into mornings. Mr. Speaker, again to the Premier. You talk about people not falling through the cracks. 300,000 people woke up this morning without a manufacturing job. People are leaving this province, not coming to it like I did in my generation when there were a million jobs created over a decade ago by a previous administration because they knew the value of sustainable taxes. They knew the value of spending dollars wisely. I think it's important for the Premier and the members of her cabinet to understand what a credit downgrade will mean. It will mean increased borrowing costs. That means it's taken directly, money directly, out of our hospitals and out of our schools. It also means you're going to have to raise taxes, and that is going to come to a very difficult burden of middle-class families across this province who are already struggling with high hydro rates, high taxes, and of course, higher gas and gross wages. So the Premier must understand she needs to refocus her budget. So will she give the credit rating agencies a signal of restraint and refocus her budget so that she can make sure there's no burden on existing programs? Thank you. The Minister of Energy is warned. Premier. Minister of the Treasury Board. Well, thank you, Speaker. All parties in this House agree that we need to get back to balance. We think we can do it. We are committed to doing it by 1718. The NDP made the same commitment in the election. I must say you promised to get there a year earlier, but you also promised massive tax cuts, which is not part of our plan, Speaker. So I just want to make a gentle reminder, Speaker, that these three plans were put before the people of Ontario. The Member from Dufferin, Caledon is warned. Carry on, please. There was a clear choice put to the people of Ontario, and on June 12th, the people of Ontario spoke. They preferred our plan of thoughtful, deliberate, path to balance. They chose that over your plan of reckless cuts. The people have spoken, Speaker. Fortunately for the government, so too have the credit rating agencies and noted economists. They have a gentle reminder for you, and I'll read from Jack Mince. He says, and I quote, if interest rates rise to even historical norms, even each point increase in interest could add a minimum of a $3 billion annual interest payment, which could severely cripple Ontario's ability to deliver services. That is a serious reminder to your government that you must learn to get this right. My daughter's generation depends on it. Our public services depend on it. Families across Ontario depend on it. You have to get something right. Will you refocus your budget, or are you going to let the credit rating agencies do it for you? Thank you. Speaker, with the greatest respect, if anybody needs to refocus their plan, it might be you. Your place to go. If you're so concerned about the deficit, why are you promising massive tax cuts? Now is the time to be thought you want to get into the math here. The point is, we have a plan. We are committed to achieving that plan. It is a thoughtful plan that protects services that matter to the people of this province. Thank you. New question. The leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. The Premier took an important step yesterday, Speaker. She finally admitted that the government may be preparing for the privatization of all or part of Hydro-1, OPG or the LCBO. Specifically, the Premier said this may or may not be the outcome of the government's plan. Now this was an important step in leveling with the public about the true nature of the plan that the Premier is cooking up for Ontario, Speaker. Will the Premier take the next step and admit that in fact her plan depends entirely on a fire sale of valuable public assets? Thank you, Speaker. Again, the leader of the third party is just stating inaccuracies. It's just not the case, Mr. Speaker. It's just not the case that what we have proposed. And if she wants to look at the details on page 164 of the document that we introduced and we will reintroduce at the beginning of the week, Mr. Speaker, it lays out exactly what we are asking Ed Clark and his group to look at. And what that is, Mr. Speaker, is a responsible look at the assets that are owned by the people of Ontario to make sure that we optimize the value of those assets to the people of Ontario. But that's one part of the plan, Mr. Speaker. We have laid out the investments that we are going to make, Mr. Speaker, as we reintroduce the budget on Monday. We have laid out the constraints that we know have to continue to be in place, Mr. Speaker. And we have laid out the process for building the province up, all of which, Mr. Speaker. I hope that... Thank you. Supplementary? Mr. Speaker, the Premier has appointed the current CEO and president of the TD Bank, Ed Clark, to look at how to sell off some of Ontario's most important public assets, like the LCBO, Hydro One and the OPG. At the same time, she has asked Ed Clark's son, Burt Clark, the CEO of Infrastructure Ontario, with leaving the sell-off of those very same asset speaker. Now isn't the Premier at all concerned that Ontarians would see this as a bit of a conflict of interest? So, Mr. Speaker, let me just address that second point first and just to say that the issues around conflict of interest are being dealt with in terms of it being very clear what the lines of decision making are, Mr. Speaker, and all of that is being tended to appropriately. But I want to just read from the budget document to make it clear to the leader of the third party what we've asked. The Premier's Advisory Council on Government Assets, which is the group that the leader of the third party's talking about, will examine how to get the most out of key government assets to generate better returns and revenues for Ontarians. The Council will report directly to the Premier of Ontario and be supported by existing resources within government. The Council has been given the mandate to maximize the values, the value of these government assets to the province, including such measures as efficient governance, growth strategies, corporate reorganization, mergers, acquisitions, and private public partnerships. The Council will give reference to continued government ownership of all core strategic assets. That is what we laid out in the budget, Mr. Speaker. Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, as the current CEO of TD Bank, Ed Clark may have a remarkable CV. He might be the most brilliant person on earth, but a lot of people have these kinds of credentials. People who are not the dad of Infrastructure Ontario CEO. The Premier has put together a plan whereby two members from one of Canada's wealthiest families are working both sides of a deal to sell off valuable public assets. Isn't the Premier at all concerned about what this looks like to Ontarians? Or is this just the regular liberal way, Speaker? The NDP way is to smear the reputation of reputable people, Mr. Speaker, who have expertise that is needed by government. So, Mr. Speaker, what we have done is we have asked someone with the expertise that is necessary to look at things like selling our GM shares, Mr. Speaker, making sure... Finish, please. Making sure that our real estate assets, Mr. Speaker, are optimized. Those are the kinds of things that we have asked Ed Clark to look at. And we have done that within the context of very strict rules around conflict of interest, Mr. Speaker, and around integrity. So, all of that is being tended to. Mr. Speaker, what I would say to the leader of the third party, I hope that, I hope that she understands that vilifying the entire private sector and vilifying people with expertise in the private sector is not responsible. Thank you. Any questions? Can you hear the third party? Thank you, Speaker. My next question is for the Premier. The Liberal Trojan Horse Budget, which masquerades as progressive, is full of surprises, Speaker. For example, the Premier has a plan to sell off public assets. She even knows how much she's going to be able to get for those assets that she's selling off. In fact, according to the budget, which she just quoted at length, it's 3.15 billion, Speaker. And she's going to get a hand-picked father and son team taking care of both sides of that deal, Speaker. Now, how can the Premier say she may or may not be planning a fire sale of assets when she's already counted the money in her budget? So, Mr. Speaker, I would just ask that the leader of the third party make it clear to the legislature and to the people of the province which part of the list of things that I'm going to go over right now that are in our budget that she does not support. So, for example, $4.2 billion in school retrofits and bills, Mr. Speaker. I made an Ontario pension plan, Mr. Speaker. An increase in the Ontario child benefit, Mr. Speaker. An increase in social assistance benefits. $810 million to support adults with developmental disabilities, Mr. Speaker. The expansion of low-income health benefits, Mr. Speaker. $20 million for expanding the student nutrition program. $42 million to prevent and reduce homelessness, Mr. Speaker. I will complete the list in the supplementary, but I think it would be a very, very good thing for the leader of the NDP. Supplementary. Our list is pretty clear, Speaker. Massive privatisation. Massive sell-off of public assets. The likelihood of further than 100,000 people being fired. Those are things that are not progressive, Speaker. Those are things that need Democrats. There's a white speaker in black and white that the government is looking at the sale of assets, including ground corporations, and I quote, including ground corporations such as Ontario Power Generation, Hydro One, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. I have a question for the Premier. What other ground corporations are the Liberals perhaps planning to sell off? The OLG, the ROM, TVO, Infrastructure Ontario itself, Speaker. Maybe she can come clean with the entire list. The things that aren't actually spelt out. Question. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And the flights of fancy that the leader of the opposition is taking right now, Mr. Speaker, is really, it's quite something. Let me just continue, Mr. Speaker. Does she or does she not, and do her members, or do they not support $50 million for a new local poverty reduction fund, Mr. Speaker? Do they or do they not support childcare modernisation and investments in early learning? Do they or do they not support wage increases for personal support workers? Do they support new funding for long-term care homes? Do they support in vitro fertilisation funding? Do they support expanded mental health and addictions support? The member from Hamilton East, Tony Creek, is warned. Do they support a comprehensive Aboriginal action plan, Mr. Speaker? All of those initiatives are part of the budget. Those are initiatives that we will implement if we get passage of the budget, Mr. Speaker. And I sincerely hope that the leader of the opposition and all of her members from Toronto, from the North, from Niagara, that they will support us, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Final supplementary? Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are awfully good at making lists, but they're really bad at getting things done in these areas. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. That's great. And that's my husband and his family's plan. And so now can, Ontario be told, can the people of Ontario be told by the Premier how many families should be worried about the following list of people who might be lost to them in terms of services? How many nurses are going to be gone? How many teaching assistants? How many child care workers? How many personal support workers? How many paramedics? How many firefighters and other public sector workers will be there when this budget is set and done? I'm sorry. I'll come back for your wrap-up. The Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure is warned. Finish, please. Point, Speaker, from the Premier. The question is, how many of these valuable public sector services are going to be lost? How many of these workers are going to be there when families need them at the end of this budget implementation? Well, Mr. Speaker, the whole thrust of our budget and our plan that we ran on was to make the investments that are necessary for people in this province to allow the economy to grow, Mr. Speaker, and to provide the services that we know people need. And it's very, very interesting to me, Mr. Speaker, that we are having the same debate with the NDP as we are having with the Conservatives. The fact is that we have taken a balanced and a rounded approach. We recognize that it is necessary to do things like make sure that our assets work for the people of Ontario, Mr. Speaker. We understand that, but we also understand that making sure that the most vulnerable in this province have the support of their government and that we do everything, everything in our power to make sure that they get... New question to the members of Prince Edward of Hastings. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. A question this morning is for the Minister responsible for the Pan Am Games. Minister, your government has continually seen cost overruns at the Pan Am Games, which are just over a year away. We originally heard that a lighting display on the Bloor Viaduct over the Don Valley Parkway was going to cost $1.8 million. That's a lot of money, you must admit, for some Christmas lights. I want to know, Minister, can you tell us how far over budget that light project is now? Good question. Minister, your government has been responsible for the Pan Am Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the member opposite for the question and congratulate him for taking on this new role as critic and also thank the Premier for this opportunity to take on this exciting file. You know, Ontario is in such a good place when it comes to the Pan Am Games. We're going to really celebrate our athletes. We're going to celebrate our province, our country. And for the first time in almost 100 years, we've taken on a major multi-sport event. I guess the last one was back in the Commonwealth Games back in the 30s. We're going to take on a multinational event to really showcase what Ontario has to offer. And I'm so proud to take on this file. In regards to the infrastructure project that the member questioned us about, that's a City of Toronto project. We have nothing to do with it at Infrastructure Ontario or through the Pan Am Games. So I would ask him to ask the City Council who's responsible, Rob Ford for it, and they can get the answer from the City of Toronto. Thank you, thank you. Thank you, Speaker. I'm not so sure if the minister is actually correct on that. And while he's becoming Ontario's version of Clark Griswold, costing us an awful lot of money on Christmas lights, this Bloor Viaduct of the Pan Am Games is at a site that has absolutely nothing to do with any athletic venue. And I can tell you that that cost is now gone. Get this, I want to make sure he knows, from $1.8 million up to $4.6 million for some lighting displays. Minister, I ask on the behalf of taxpayers of Ontario, what's it going to take for your government to actually bring the Pan Am Games in on budget and on schedule? Or do you think that it's okay to continue to up the price, up the budgets, and just send the bill to the Ontario taxpayer? Get it, please. Thank you. Minister? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think if the member opposite's going to criticise this government, the Pan Am Games, he's got to get his facts in order. The project he's talking about has nothing to do with the provincial government's... A member from Bruce Gray, Owen Sound, you're warned. Finish, please. It has nothing to do with the provincial government's operation within Infrastructure Ontario. It's a city of Toronto project, but I have to say that I'm excited about the games because we have 50 municipalities working with the province and the federal government to put on the Pan Am Games. It's the first time I would say that 50 municipalities have come together in any major games to really showcase what Ontario has to offer. I'm very proud to take on this felt, very proud of our athletes, and very proud of Ontario for taking on this amazing responsibility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. For a very, very long time now, there's been calls to this house to give the Ontario ombudsman oversight of our health care system. Life in death events happens in our hospital every day. Sometimes things go wrong and people want answers. They turn to the Ontario ombudsman, an independent third party, with investigating powers and ability to give them answers. Why won't this government give the Ontario ombudsman oversight of our health care system? Mr. Speaker, I'm very proud that yesterday my colleague, my seatmate, the President of the Treasury Board, reintroduced our Accountability Act, which includes a very important provision in it, the creation of the position of the patient ombudsman. This speaks to the essence of what we strive to do as a province and as a government, is focus on quality of care for patients, on customer service, on making sure that what we do through our health care system truly addresses the needs, the frontline services of those who most need them, individuals and their families. Mr. Speaker, I'm also equally proud that our patient ombudsman is focusing, it gives us the ability to have an individual who is wholly focused to one task, that's looking at our health care system and addressing patient needs, being the strongest possible advocate for our patients and addressing those challenges that do come up from time to time, who are aspiring to ensure that the quality of care can be the best it possibly can. So I'm proud that we've introduced this, I look forward to a passing hopefully in the very near future. Mr. Speaker, what people in Ontario want, what they have said, they wanted, is an independent officer. It is somebody they trust to be on their side. It is the third party that will give them answer, that will help them turn the page, that will help them gain closures when things go wrong in our health care system. And this is not what you're giving them. I ask the minister to look at the tens of thousands of petition to this House, to look at the private members bill that I've presented and the people that support them, to go on social media and look at the tens of thousands of people who ask you to do the right thing, to give the ombudsman oversight of our health care system, not a patient's ombudsman underneath health quality Ontario. I'd like the minister to explain to Ontarians, to those tens of thousands of people who are asking you, why do you refuse to give the Ontario ombudsman oversight of our health care system? I have to say I'm shocked because I'm used to very positive, constructive, useful information and criticism at times coming from the member opposite on the health care file. We welcome that constructive criticism whenever it comes, but on this case I have to profoundly disagree. This is an individual that doesn't have responsibility for a myriad of priorities across the government, but is wholly focused on the health care system. It has all the powers of the ombudsman, Mr. Speaker, and is housed within the health quality Ontario, which in fact is an agency that the ombudsman of Ontario does have oversight for, but an individual that addresses all of the needs and the requirements that you've asked for. And quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, the many, many people that I've spoken to about this actually prefer this option where it is a dedicated person that isn't isn't focused on everything that government does, solely on improving our health care system and addressing that frontline service to patients, patient quality, making sure that all the individuals and families across the province are truly have their needs met. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Minister, Ontario has been a leader in making sure that the dignity and respect of everyone is upheld, regardless of where they come from, their sexual orientation or gender identification. Toby's Act is an important example of that in my constituents wants to ensure that the value the Act represents are also extended to inmates in the care of our correctional facilities. Speaker, through the Minister, what are we doing to ensure that inmates are treated with the respect and dignity that Ontario believes they should be treated with? Thank you very much, Speaker. Let me first thank the new member from Ottawa, Orleans, for her question and commitment to issues around human rights, and I want to congratulate her on her election and look forward to very much working with her closely on this issue and many issues that impacts her community. Speaker, it was a tremendous day in 2012 and this Legislature passed the Toby's Act. I was personally very honoured to work along with the MPP from Parkdale High Park and the MPP from Whitby, Oshawa, in marking a milestone in ensuring that we protect the gender identity and gender expression of Ontarians in our human rights code. We are the first province speaker to have done so, and I am very much committed in making sure that under my Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services that our policies when it relates to our inmates who come into Correctional Facilities comply with Toby's Act and that's why I was present at the Ontario Human Rights Commission's launch of the guideline based on the amended code and look forward to continue working with them. Thank you, supplementary. Speaker, I'm happy to hear about ongoing advocacy as well as demonstrating that Correctional Institution are respecting gender identity and expression. In the past, Ontarians and Canadians have fought to secure their freedom of choice in gender and sexual orientation. Recent media reports, however, indicated that provincial inmates are still placed based on biological sex rather than their self-expression. Speaker, through you to the Minister, can you tell my constituents of Ottawa Orleans what your Ministry is doing to protect the rights and dignity of transgender and intersex inmates? Thank you, Minister. Thank you very much, Speaker. I want to be very clear in terms of what our current policy is when it comes to inmates coming to Correctional Facilities. I want to be clear that the current policy is that individual self-identification is the key consideration when determining placement in a Correctional Facility. This identification is made regardless whether or not the inmate has undergone medical treatments to align their physical bodies with their gender identity. In addition, Speaker, when transgender and intersex inmates are first admitted to provincial Correctional Facilities, they are given the freedom to choose the gender of the officer who will perform the physical screening and even elect to have both male and female staff present. This, Speaker, is the current policy. As I mentioned earlier, we're working very closely with the Ontario Human Rights Commission to make sure there are new policy fully complies with the guidelines that have been put out by the Human Rights Commission. And of course, we will continue to consult with the trans community as well to make sure that their point of view is taken into account. Thank you. Thank you very much for the Minister of Environment. Minister, in 2003, the Ministry of Environment released a report which found that the air in Beechville in my riding of Oxford had higher than acceptable particulate levels. The report laid out a plan that included annual site inspections, reviews of industry reports and communications with our community. But your ministry won't give us any information. Minister, in my letter to you on the day that you were sworn in, I told you that I have asked for this information. I have now asked your ministry three times and haven't received a single response. Minister, can you tell me and my constituents what your ministry has done to ensure that the air that they are breathing is safe? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I think these are some of the most important questions that we as ministers get asked in the House. And I respect my friend from Oxford for holding me and the government account. I apologize. Sincerely, I believe in the minister for a couple of weeks that we did not get back to. I have not personally seen your letter yet. I would ask that if you can take a few minutes after question period. I'd like to chat with you. I will go back to my office promptly after review that letter and I will have an answer with you as soon as possible. Again, I apologize. We weren't able to. Thank you very much, Minister. Since you didn't address the beach failure or quality in your response, I'm assuming, as you said, that you have not read the letter and also have not looked at the information. People in my writing are depending on your ministry to ensure that the air they breathe is safe. It's not acceptable for the ministry to simply refuse to provide the information on what is, if anything, has been done. And this is over a year period of the since 2003 minister. Minister, will you commit to provide me within two weeks a full package, including the results of the annual site inspections, review of industry reports and the steps that have been taken. And if you will commit to work with us to ensure that the air quality in the beach military is safe for the people of Beachville. Thank you, Minister. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I will go back to the ministry. I will find out what information I'm legally allowed to release and I will certainly make sure that anything that I as minister can release without compromising the integrity of the ministry or the process will do that. I'm very concerned about the air quality in Beachville as we are across Ontario. The Premier and I this morning were with a large number of children confirming the reintroduction of the end to coal act. As you know, that was the equivalent of taking all of the cars in Ontario, the 7 million cars off our road and was the single biggest reduction in emissions and greenhouse gas emissions. But it was also one of the single biggest reductions in nitric oxide in particular matter, which is that matter. When I came back to Ontario after being away in 2005, there were 53 smog days that year alone. 53 days where it wasn't safe to go outside. So this is obviously a great concern. I think it's one I share with the member, certainly prior to the government and we'll work with the sir on that. New question? The member from Windsor-Tecumse. Thank you, Speaker. My question this morning is to the ministry of environment and climate change. Good morning, Minister. Congratulations on your new appointment. Speaker, climate change is having the real impact on our province. Just last year, we experienced the most expensive natural disaster in Ontario to date. But this government isn't taking the problem seriously. This morning, the Environmental Commissioner revealed Ontario's emissions are set to rise. This government is not on track to meet its own emissions reduction targets for 2020. In fact, they'll miss the mark by almost 20 percent. As the Environment Commissioner said, the province has lost the leadership position it once had. Speaker, will the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change explain why this government will fail to meet its own 2020 emissions reduction targets? Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just two points quickly. I'd like to congratulate the Minister of Re-election and all his department as my critic. We seem to be we seem to be paired up and I'll look forward to many good mornings and return them as well. Let's just look at what reality is as opposed to projection. The reality is it was confirmed in the last 24 hours that we will actually exceed our 2014 goals. We will actually reduce GHGs more than our plan called for. The Premier obviously believes that more should be done and so we've become a government where there is a Minister of Climate Change which is myself. To do what I think the the Environmental Commissioner said is that stronger action is needed across multiple ministries and that must be coordinated under the leadership of the Premier and myself working with her and I will I will get into some more detail about that what that will look like because we are determined to meet our 2020 goals. Thank you, supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some would say it's one thing to rename a ministry and it's quite another to actually deliver on one's commitments. We've heard today from the Independent Environment Commissioner that this government is not doing enough to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to address the impacts of climate change on our economy and, Speaker, on our communities. Worst of all, Ontario's transportation emissions reduction target has been cut by 80%. As the Commissioner said, I have been given no reason why and no explanation about what the Ontario government plans to do instead. So Speaker, will the minister admit that this government is cutting its own targets because it has no plan to actually cut emissions by 2020? Mr. Speaker, I try to be helpful with my advice to my friend and the people who live in glass houses, especially these days, should not throw stones. We actually have a plan and he may have noticed because we just came out of the election, their party was completely silent on the environment in there. And I barely could find the word climate change in it. So I listened very carefully to the Environmental Commissioner and we're already moving on those things. One of the the Environmental Commissioner was asked at his press conference that I attended, what were the three things we could move on? And what was his strongest advice for the government? He said, first, transit and transportation. The big move, $29 billion, and we started, and I'll be working with Minister Duga to Mr. Del Ducca on regional express rail. This will be the biggest shift doubling the number of people on concern electrifying our system. That is a huge commitment that will help us include by saying buildings, places to grow, new buildings. Thank you. New question? A member from Kingston and the islands. Question is for the Minister of Community and Social Services, whom I'd like to congratulate on her new position. Minister, as the proud member for Kingston and the islands, I'm happy to report that I have learned that community living Kingston, located in my riding, has recently received new funding for an exciting project from the Ministry of Community and Social Services Developmental Services Innovation Fund. This is one of the many new grants to various developmental service agencies across the province, all designed to support these agencies as they work to promote the inclusion and employment of adults with developmental disabilities and to improve services for individuals and families. Developmental services in Ontario are undergoing an important transformation so that individuals can receive care closer to their families and friends and lead to independent lives in inclusive communities. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister further explain the intent of the Developmental Services Innovation Fund and its investments in agencies across the province? Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member for Kingston and the islands for this question. I think as we've come to see her in action over the last few days we know she's going to be a tremendous asset to this house and in the new role she will constict us. And so to the question, the member is right. The Developmental Services Innovation Fund is an example of an exciting step forward as we continue to strengthen the way we provide services to those with developmental disabilities. Supporting projects that promote inclusion and help people with developmental disabilities by meaningful work is part of the government's economic plan that is creating jobs for today and tomorrow. Our government is proud to support these innovative partnerships with agencies in Kingston and the islands as well as about 50 other ridings across the province. These investments will be a critical step in helping people with developmental disabilities gain employment and lead more enriched and fulfilling lives. Thank you, Minister. A truly inclusive society is a goal that we all have a shared responsibility to work towards. I am pleased to share that a program known as Youth Connect designed and implemented by Community Living Kingston will benefit from an investment from Disability Services Innovation Fund. This project will develop social, recreational and employment opportunities for youth aged 6 to 22 who have a developmental disability. The target population is youth leaving school in the next few years and or leaving the child welfare system. Youth Connect will assist young people to explore interests, develop connections by accessing community resources, and provide coordinated support from volunteers and peers. Ten youth will have an opportunity to build and create a sustainable, mentoring relationship. Mr. Speaker, can the minister share the other types of projects that the fund will invest in as well as other ranges of individuals who will benefit from these efforts? Thank you, minister. The DS Innovation Fund will support projects from across the province that encourage alternatives to traditional models of support. Examples of proposed initiatives include pre-employment training, volunteer matching, and employer awareness initiatives. As the member from Kingston and the islands knows from her own writing, a portion of these funds will benefit youth transitioning from high school and initiatives will also serve individuals with a range of needs and circumstances including individuals who also have complex health and physical challenges and post-secondary students and other adults with developmental disabilities. Building on this fund and other investments to date, the budget tabled on May 1st to be reintroduced next week will propose an additional $810 million over three years to further strengthen developmental services in Ontario. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm sure members on all sides of this House want to support individuals with developmental disabilities and they can do that in a very practical way next week and vote for the budget. Thank you. New question? Member from Kingston? Thank you and good morning speaker. My question is for the Premier. Premier, just over six months ago the auditor general issued a damning report of your government's fire sale of Ontario Northland. It said your ill-conceived plan would not save Ontario taxpayers $265 million as you claimed but actually cost taxpayers $820 million. Now, despite widespread community opposition in northeastern Ontario, you're plowing ahead with the sale of ONTC's telecom arm, Ontario. Yesterday you announced the termination of 70 employees of Ontario. We know the Ontario sale will actually cost the taxpayer between 50 and $70 million. Premier, how can you possibly proceed with the sale of Ontario at that cost when you're already running a $12.5 billion deficit? Thank you. Minister of Northern Development and Mines? Minister of Northern Development and Mines? Thank you. I appreciate the question. Let me remind the member and other members of the House that before Premier Wynn came into office in February 2013, our approach quite frankly was to move forward with the full divestment of the ONTC. Premier Wynn, asked us to look at that far more carefully and to consult with stakeholders in northeastern Ontario and we set up a Ministerial Advisory Committee and did some substantial work and a couple of months ago made the announcement that four of the five lines of the Ontario Northland will be set in public hands and that we will continue to operate the motorcoach, the refurbishment, Polar Bear Express, and rail freight. The decision was indeed that it made sense from quite frankly a fiscal point of view and may I say it's ironic that this member is asking the question because he was quite supportive of privatisation on a number of occasions. The fact is that the decision to sell on Janabelle line was made on the basis of what was the best interest of us long-term sustainable telecommunications leper. I'll look forward in the supplementary providing some more details in that regard but a lot of my Mr. Speaker is a little bit complicated. Thank you. Back to the Premier. I'll remind you that you only changed your approach after we approved that there were no savings to the government. Premier, this Ontario sale will actually cost you tens of millions of dollars and hurt the regional economy of northeastern Ontario. On top of this your government stands idly by while Ontario Northland could be pursuing opportunities to refurbish rail tanker cars when the feds change their safety standards. That could add hundreds of jobs and add value to the government. And you still haven't given the transportation and telecom experts at ONTC a seat at the table with the ring of fire discussions. These are your experts in moving ore. They've been the experts in Ontario for over a hundred years. Premier, call them. Don't fire them. Why do you refuse to recognize Ontario Northland provides critical infrastructure for all of Ontario? Thank you. Minister? Mr. Speaker we are extremely eager to move forward on a number of discussions particularly related to refurbishment opportunities. There are some synergies we think with metro links which I have an opportunity to have a brief discussion with the new minister transportation about. We are indeed open to all kinds of interesting discussions related to the ONTC and potential role in other operations in the north. The fact is the decision on Ontario was a tough one. The fact is that I think the private sector is far better equipped to handle the future sustainability of the operation. It's always extremely difficult when ultimately discussions take place that result in any job losses at all. But this will ensure the long-term sustainability of the telecommunications side of the business and will allow us to focus very, very strongly on the transportation needs and infrastructure opportunities in northeastern which the ONTC gives us. So keeping in note four lines in public hands was great news for everybody in northeastern Ontario. Thank you for your question. The member from Hamilton needs 23. Thank you. Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister responsible for infrastructure. Speaker significant delays to the completion of Hamilton's Tim Horton Field Stadium were announced following a meeting of Hamilton City staff, the Tiger Cats, Infrastructure Ontario and Ontario Sports Solutions which despite the name is a foreign led consortium to which the Ontario government gave the contract to. It's unconscionable Speaker that nothing appears to have been done between the government and its partners to coordinate a fix to the problem when this delay has been known for months. Speaker this isn't just a venue waiting for the games to happen in 2015. The Hamilton Stadium has tenants pre and post pan-parapan games ready to use the building now. Speaker why did the Liberals fail to make the timely completion of the Hamilton Stadium at priority. Minister of economic development employment and infrastructure. Well thank you Mr. Speaker it is unfortunate that the Tiger Cats organization and fans will not be able to utilize that stadium for their first few games. But Mr. Speaker let's put this into perspective the Tiger Cats organization and Tiger Cats fans are soon going to have a brand new spanking stadium to be able to run onto the field to as part of the investments that this government is making. Mr. Speaker I think everybody involved including the Tiger Cats organization sees that as a fantastic way to ensure that that the Tiger Cats organization is sustainable going on into the future. Mr. Speaker this delay will be short term. Mr. Speaker very soon in the summer we'll see the Tiger Cats run onto that stadium. But Mr. Speaker this is also an example of a learning moment I think for the NDP who opposed AFP projects had it not that this not been an AFP project it would have been Ontario taxpayers that might have been on the hook for any delay cost that will not happen because of the constructive way this has been put together. Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker maybe I can enlighten the minister. Mr. Speaker it's bad enough that the job hasn't been completely mishandled but I'm fortunate that the Tiger Cats will receive one million dollars per game lost revenue as because of the late openings that you're spouting about. Ontario sports solutions has tried to prevent unionized workers from working on the Hamilton venue from the first time you should have done that and now we see that the true impact of the government not requiring local and unionized workers to do the jobs they know best in Hamilton you gave it to a foreign consortium. Mr. Speaker will this government finally see the ongoing errors of their ways and take immediate action to ensure that Hamilton Stadium gets completed at least by August 16th for their third game and the other venues be ready on the other Pan Am venues which are behind the schedule too which is going to cost the taxpayers of Ontario millions more dollars. He's dead wrong Mr. Speaker because this was done through an alternative financing procurement process something the NDP are philosophically opposed to this will not cost the taxpayers a cent Mr. Speaker because any delay costs are at the expense of the proponent and Mr. Speaker that's important to state because had we have listened to the member opposite in his party in the way that they want to do projects in the old fashion way taxpayers may have been on the hook for that but Mr. Speaker the priority here is to ensure that that stadium is built as soon as possible Mr. Speaker it will be the Hamilton Tiger Cats will be running onto that brand new field at some point this summer we expect by the third game Mr. Speaker as soon as possible the fact of the matter is Hamilton and their football team are getting a brand new stadium Mr. Speaker and the Tiger Cats are getting it without having to put a penny forward this is a good news story for Hamilton despite with the member opposite destroying the TV people in the league New questions to members from Durham Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of agriculture food and rural affairs across the province you're excited about the government's refresh wine and grape strategy this is a plan that will help build up on the success of the original strategy that supported growth in the wine sector including doubling the number of VQA wineries creating 2000 direct jobs across jobs record great production and development of prime tourist destinations my writing of Durham has two outstanding VQA wineries Ocala and and orchards and winery in Skugag and Archibald orchards in estate wineries my constituents along with residents across Ontario want to know how the government will ensure a robust and competitive future for Ontario's wine and grape industry Time's up Minister of Agriculture Well thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I want to congratulate the mood member from Durham you know before he arrived here on June the 12th the member from Durham had a very distinguished career as an education trustee with the Peterborough Victorian Development and Clarrington separate school board he did a tremendous job in an education leader of that role and we welcome him here to Queen's Park I do know he wants me to answer his questions so I'll get to that last December Premier Wynne was a dagger to announce that Ontario is building on the success of its winery and grape strategy by investing up to $75 million over five years to grow the province's wine industry with the new wine and grape strategy answer Ontario's investing in the success of the long-term sustainability of its wines by established an Ontario wine fund that will create incentives for job creation investment and to improving access to Ontario wines by launching a pilot project to allow VQA wines thank you seated please supplementary thank you Mr Speaker and thank you to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the update my constituents will be thrilled to hear that we are expanding the government's wine and grape strategy and particularly exploring VQAO wine sales in farmers market in my riding of Durham we are fortunate to have many opportunities to shop locally in Oxbridge at the Oxbridge farmers market and help local producers and others committed to local food market in the local production to our community many of my constituents are actively involved in a number of initiatives to expand opportunities in local food and marketing and would be interesting to know how the wine and grape strategy will help support local food in Durham Mr Speaker the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs please provide details on how this strategy will help to promote local food in Durham well thank you Mr Speaker that was an outstanding supplementary we're very committed to supporting the growth and expansion of Ontario's wine industry as part of our wine and grape strategy we've initiated a pilot project that will allow VQA wines to be sold at farmers markets across the province including the outstanding farmers market the Oxbridge farmers market the pilot program will what make it easier for people to connect local food and the world-class wine made in this wonderful province create economic opportunities for Ontario's wider east and third will celebrate the VQA wines that are crafted entirely entirely Mr Speaker from Ontario growing grapes whether it's Prince Edward County the Niagara Peninsula or people thank you I uh I'm going to come to a new question to member from Sarnia-Lamblin thank you my question is to the new minister of government and consumer services minister Ontario's regulatory burden continues to threaten jobs in Sarnia-Lamblin specialized long-service employees of the energy refining and petrochemical sectors are facing the real prospect of job loss industry is facing a potential for critical labour shortage at fault is a TSA regulation that will force them from their jobs experienced men and women who have worked for decades operating steam driven equipment with a special permit from your ministry under the TSA it will leave local industry short of labour and threaten operations minister Unifor the union that represents these workers is asking for a meeting with you and your ministry and staff will you wish to meet with them before the summer is over thank you Mr Speaker I want to first congratulate the member from Sarnia-Lamblin for his reelection thank him for the question and he's asked a question about one of the nine delegated authorities that fall under our ministries responsibility and as the member knows full well the TSA is an independent body that is self-regulating self-funding it receives no money from government but I understand the question with respect to the specific training and the permitting around those particular engineers and operators I am certainly prepared to have a discussion with them but I want to reinforce the point that public safety is paramount when it comes to the TSA activity we obviously want to be reducing the burden to business in fact that's one of our key strategies and plan to help grow the economy and support jobs in Ontario I will also be meeting with the ministers and CEOs of the delegated authority so I'm happy to have a discussion to see where we can take this because obviously we want to see people working in the province of Ontario thank you member from Eglinton warrants on the point of order yeah point of order Mr Speaker I seek unanimous consent to have a moment's silence and the lowering of the legislative flag for the unfortunate and sad murder of an elementary teacher the other day Abshir Hassan Eglinton warrants is seeking unanimous consent to have a moment's of silence for the slain teacher do we agree we would ask all members of the House to please rise for a moment's of silence thank you there are no deferred votes this House stands recess until 3 p.m. this afternoon