 for that, and it's now time for question period the leader of Her Majesty's Royal Opposition. Mr Speaker, my question is for the acting Premier. It has been eight years since the government created the lens, and for those eight years, the Auditor General has noted the province has failed to determine or establish a way to judge their performance. Not surprisingly, she said that it makes it pretty difficult to determine whether they have any value for money. However, we know the Minister has promised change. Mr Speaker, is the government scrapping the lens, or after eight years of creating them, have they finally figured out what they're doing? Mr Speaker, I'd like to thank the Minister of Health, Mr Speaker, and it gives me the opportunity to thank the Auditor General for her most recent report or annual report that does reference and speak to both our CCACs and lens, Mr Speaker. These recommendations build and point us in a direction that already builds on the strong accountability and performance measurements that we have in place in our health care system, including through our lens. They have a responsibility, as this legislature knows, to integrate health care across the health care system. We do know, and the Auditor General has spoken to this, Mr Speaker. We do know that there is additional work to be done to further strengthen the accountability measures, make sure that we're measuring the appropriate outcomes as well so we can continue to improve the quality of care through that important role that our lens do play. Mr Speaker, again to the acting Premier, and I appreciate the fact that seems to be every Liberal Minister speaking notes to say I thank the Auditor General. The AG report, if you've read it, the 773 pages, is an indictment on your government. I will continue. Whether you live in Moussani, Milton or Muskoka, the people of Ontario deserve the highest quality of health care across our province. Sadly, the performance levels across Ontario and the 14 lens have been substandard. The AG reported none of the 14 lens have ever met all of their targets in 15 areas of performance. But that wasn't news to the Minister. Lens performance targets are a problem year after year. The Minister's response to these problems, according to the AG, was take little action to hold the lens accountable when low performance continues. So if you really want to thank the AG, maybe for once in your time as Minister, you can actually listen to the Auditor General. Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I know that the PCs, had they been in power today, would have gotten rid of the lens, fired the workers. We believe on this side of government that it's important that health care decisions be taken at the local level. They be taken in the community, not at Queen's Park, Mr. Speaker, that they be taken at a level where we have community representation on local boards, making local decisions that apply to local... It's difficult to get control when the side that's answering is heckling too. And I'm right to say that the member from Leeds-Grenville, I don't need an arm-share quarterback. Let's just listen to the answer and listen to the question. Please finish, you have a wrap up. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to quote the AG, she says, I'm pleased to report that over three-quarters of these actions have been either fully implemented or in the process of being implemented. I want to especially note the exemplary performance of the Ministry of Education, OPGs, Service and Terror, and the Ministry of Health, the long-term care and implementing recommendations from our audits two years ago. Mr. Speaker, again to the acting Premier, and based on their responses, I really wonder if they've even seen the AG report because they have a different interpretation of the AG report compared to everyone in Ontario has looked at it and every single media report. To the acting Premier, Ontario has community care access centres and thanks to the AG we know that they spend 40 cents of every dollar on administrative costs and CEO salaries. We have two levels of healthcare bureaucracy that the average patient doesn't interact with. They interact with personal support workers, nurses and doctors. That's where funding should go. Not an $800 million cut to patient care, not physiotherapy cuts in long-term care homes. The AG report makes it very clear that this minister has ignored her previous recommendations. Mr. Speaker, will this government continue to ignore the Auditor General? Will it be more spin? Or will they finally do the right thing and listen to the Auditor General? Peter, please. Thank you. Minister? Well, Mr. Speaker, this was the second report this year by the Auditor General that referenced and dealt specifically with our CCACs as I did in September with their first report where I embraced her recommendations and indicated the commitment of this government to implement every single one of them. We're working on these latest recommendations as well. Mr. Speaker, in the very near future, I will be releasing, this government will be releasing a discussion paper which speaks specifically to her recommendations and to further changes on top of the 10 changes that I announced and we're implementing earlier this year, earlier this year, responding to the Gail Donner report on home and community care. We implemented an action plan focusing on function. The discussion paper was... A member from Leeds, Grenville, come to order. ...acquired to improve the quality of care through home and community care. Before I move to a new question, the member from Leeds, Grenville, as soon as I said come to order, you kept going. You're supposed to stop when I, when I talk to you. And the member from Dufferin Callendon could also come to order. New question. The leader of the opposition. Mr. Speaker, to the acting Premier, since I can't get an answer on the lack of action on the lens, let's talk about long-term care. Ontario's long-term care homes provide for the province's most frail and vulnerable people. They must be held to the highest standard when it comes to residents' dignity, health and safety. But what we have learned from the Auditor General, we've learned that the backlog of complaints and critical incidents has more than doubled since 2013 during the time of our current Premier. When will they give residents the long-term care homes and their families the peace of mind and security they deserve? This is your mess. This entire fiasco is on your watch. Will you own it? Will you respond to the A.G. and do something meaningful in regards to long-term care? Thank you, Dr. Pina. It's to the Associate Minister of Health. Associate Minister of Health and Long-term Care. Thank you, Speaker. I thank the leader of the opposition for that question. And as I said yesterday, we accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General. And we actually thank the Auditor General for her work. And I'm pleased to report, Mr. Speaker, that we are already implementing her recommendations. First, all outstanding inspections determined as determined as high risk by the Auditor General have now been completed. Especially important, Mr. Speaker, we are well on our way to implementing her recommendations. Some of these initiatives, Mr. Speaker, have been underway for some time long before the Auditor General's report came out. For example, we are working with our partners to ensure stronger measure on repeated non-compliance, expanding the number of offense provisions under the current legislation. All this to say to you, Mr. Speaker, we expect that we accept the recommendations. Thank you. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker, again to the acting Premier or the minister responsible for long-term care, you may say you're accepting the Auditor General's recommendations. But you know who doesn't believe that? The Auditor General. Because she says in her report, you're not taking the advice. You're not realizing the situation that exists in Ontario. This backlog isn't an issue that government can shrug off. Last year, the majority of critical incidents requiring inspections were a result of neglect or abuse. In just one year, that number has increased 90% on your watch. There were 1,750 of those incidents reported in 2014. Our senior citizens, our frail, our vulnerable deserve better. Mr. Speaker, why isn't this government making a priority of this mess? Why is this government not investigating these serious complaints? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since we're in the business of quoting the Auditor's report, let me quote something here as well, Mr. Speaker. While we acknowledge we must do, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the Auditor General has acknowledged, and I quote, the ministry's new comprehensive inspection process was an improvement over its previous inspection program and that the inspection process is more extensive than those in other provinces. And, Mr. Speaker, it's a little rich coming questions on inspections from the opposition who never even inspected long-term care homes when they were in power. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a supplementary. Mr. Speaker, again to the acting Premier, according to the AG report, four of the five regional offices had complaints or critical incidents that have been outstanding for more than a year. More than a year. Astonishingly, 65% of cases were closed without inspection and had insufficient information to show why an inspection was not required. And you're proud of that. This government has ignored the complaints of families. They simply told them to go away with no explanation as to why their complaint wasn't investigated. This is just callous. Mr. Speaker, you know, I've got a loved one in a long-term care facility and I would be absolutely livid if there was a serious incident and we complained and there was no investigation. Thank goodness that hasn't happened in my family, but it's happened to 65% of the complaints that have had in Ontario. How can you stand by this? How can you spin your way out of this? This is wrong. Deal with it. Mr. Speaker, please. Thank you. Associate Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And once again, I thank the leader of the opposition for his question. And as I said before, let me repeat this. All outstanding inspections. Excuse me. Let's keep the battle of the books away. Carry on. So Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, all outstanding inspections determined at a high risk by the auditor general have now been completed. And the reason, Mr. Speaker, is that we do take our inspection process very seriously. We do take the recommendations of the auditor general very seriously and we're working to implement those recommendations and work has already started. But again, Mr. Speaker, very rich coming from the opposition, a party that when they were in power for a long period of time completely forgot to do any inspections, Mr. Speaker. New questions? Thank you. My question is for the acting premier. Seniors are waiting as long as 198 days before they get home care. My question is very simple. What happened to the liberal commitment to five-day home care? Minister of Health, long-term care. Well, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as I mentioned before, Mr. Speaker, we've had now three important, I would call seminal reports this year alone. Gail Donner at the beginning of the year, two reports now from the auditor general. I take all of those reports equally as seriously. The important aspect of these reports is that they provide very specific guidance and recommendations, Mr. Speaker. I've embraced and supported and accepted all three of the reports committed to implementing their recommendations. We are well on our way, Mr. Speaker, to implementing many of the recommendations expressed in these reports earlier this year. I released an action plan focusing on improving the quality of care and dressing, including addressing the issues referenced by the member opposite. In the coming weeks, I will be issuing a further discussion paper which will be making significant proposals for change to continue to improve. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Our Premier promised she was not going to cut health care. But so far, the track record is quite different. She's fired over 625 nurses this year alone. 150 health care workers in North Bay are receiving pink slip for Christmas. 84 jobs are being cut in Belvington Trelton Hospital. On Friday, we learned that another 12 jobs are being lost at St. Joseph Hospital in Hamilton. And the list goes on. Hospital from Oshawa to Sarnia to Ottawa to Sault Ste. Marie are cutting frontline health care workers because of this government funding freeze. But you know what, Speaker? Every one of these cuts hurts patients' care. What happened to the Liberals' promise not to cut health care? Thank you, Minister. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's important to note that the NDP party voted against our budget that had an increase of $250 million of new money to invest in home and community care. And it was the NDP government that under their watch there were, as a result of their decisions, 3,000 fewer RNs were employed in this province as a result of measures taken by that party when they were in government. We've taken the opposite approach, Mr. Speaker. We're investing in home care for the $800,000. If it starts up, I'll go to the individual. Carry on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since 2003, there are now 24,000 more nurses employed in this province than were when we came into office. These are important investments. Our commitment to our nursing professionals is there. Our commitment to improving home and community care is as vital as it always has to be. Thank you. Final supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. Well, over the last few weeks, we've heard a lot about transformation in the healthcare sector. The Minister of Health uses that word all the time. So does Ed Clark, the Premier Privatization Advisor and Chief Hydro Auctioneer. But what we are really seeing, Speaker, are seniors waiting over 200 days for home care. When the Liberal had a commitment to five days, we see nurses being fired when we had a commitment not to cut healthcare. And we see people that need care that can give access. When I heard transformation, Speaker, I hear a weasel word. Our deeper cuts and even longer wait list. That's not for an entry withdrawal, please. I withdraw, Speaker. When I hear transformation, I'm wondering, our deeper cuts and even longer wait list, the sort of transformation the Liberals are planning for us. Well, Mr Speaker, we're doing the opposite of what the member opposite is alleging. We're increasing our investments in home and community care. We're increasing the number of visits that are available to Ontarians. We're now last year alone, our nurses and personal support workers saw 35 million visits across this province. That was 1.3 million more visits than took place the year previous. We're increasing our investments in home and community care this year by roughly $250 million. So we're spending almost $5 billion, a tenth of the health care budget, Mr Speaker, is being invested in home and community care where it should be, Mr Speaker, as it helps us move people out of hospitals, into their homes, into their communities where they can be better cared for due to innovations and the supports of answer. That's where they want to be, Mr Speaker. Thank you. No question. Member from Essex. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is to the acting Premier, Speaker. The auditor general said that she was concerned about how the Liberal government was handing out job creation dollars without any accountability or without even checking whether the money was needed in the first place. The question is quite simple, Speaker. When will the government be appointing the arms length boards and independent advisory committees for the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund and the Eastern Ontario Development Fund? Thank you. Minister of economic development of limited infrastructure. Minister. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for that question. That's a question I look forward to addressing. But, Mr Speaker, I think that's important as well to recognize when a member asks a question that's a legitimate question and when sometimes members get up in righteous indignation when they have no right to do so. And, Mr Speaker, I want to compare your question to the question the leader of the opposition yesterday. When he got up in righteous indignation, here's a member, Mr Speaker, served in a federal government that supported 3,000 jobs in partnering with Oakville through those very same business supports. 8,000 jobs and wealth through those very same business supports. 8,000 jobs in Cambridge and Woodstock. Where was the righteous indignation then? But, Mr Speaker, this takes the cake. I recall being embarrassed, Mr Speaker, at the launch of a data center through a partnership with the federal government. And I have a photo with myself, Mayor Lehman, and the leader of the opposition in his smiling face, Mr Speaker, cutting the ribbon with us self-support for our government. Supplementary. Mr Speaker, I appreciate that the minister considers my question as legitimate. I would appreciate a legitimate answer to that. In 2012, MPPs passed legislation to ensure that the Eastern Development Fund and the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund would have independent boards, they would have local advisory committees, and annual reporting to create much needed transparency in this House. But the government is refusing to put into action those sections into law. This is just another example of the government failing on the fundamentals of governance. After last week's Auditor General's report, it's clear that the government isn't up to the job to managing job creation in this province and making sure that those funds work for Ontarians. I'll ask again, Speaker, when will those independent boards be appointed in this House? Minister? Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I appreciate the patience of the member opposite and giving me the opportunity to state something I was looking forward to saying today. But the member realizes, and in fact we've worked with colleagues on his side of the House as well, it's really important that we strike the balance with the Regional Economic Development Funds, Mr Speaker, to ensure that we're responding to those communities in a timely fashion. We've worked very closely with local municipalities, including his own area of Windsor, and Mr Speaker, we have a process that we put in place that is highly accountable. For every dollar invested, Mr Speaker, there has to be jobs created, and if they're not, those dollars are clawed back or not flowing in the first place. There's a very stringent process of consideration for these projects, Mr Speaker. They are not politically determined in any way. There's a process that comes through, and Mr Speaker, I'd be happy to talk a little more to the member offline about this. Thank you. Thank you. A member from Renfrew will come door. Final supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. Quite simply, in 2012, this House passed legislation to ensure that the Eastern Ontario Development Fund and the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund had independent boards who would make up the choices to ensure that job creation dollars helped families in our communities, not just government friends. Does the government think that job creation funds need less oversight, less independence, and much more? Deputy House Leader, second time. Minister? Speaker, those types of allegations, when I spent hours working with this member and talking to this member at SNS, it's well worth the very stringent process we go to. To him, frame to make those allegations after knowing that we have a very stringent, a very accountable process. Mr Speaker, it's really not a fair allegation at all. And Mr Speaker, the fact of the matter is I do not intervene and have not intervened in any recommendation that's come forward through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund or the Southwestern Development Fund. They work their ways up through the communities, Mr Speaker. They're open funds and we encourage corporations, companies to take access to them and communities, Mr Speaker, communities in Southwestern Ontario and Eastern Ontario are very pleased with the administration of these funds. I suggest that you listen to them as well. Mr Speaker, the member from Algin Minister of London. Mr Speaker, my question to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Speaker, just when we thought it couldn't get any worse for home care patients in Ontario, the auditor general tabled her report last week that revealed additional concerns about the severely troubled CCACs. What the opposition suspected and we now know that the ministry has done little to address multiple issues that were identified five years ago. Five years later, some Ontarians are receiving less care because of where they live. Five years later, support still aren't available with the friends and families carrying for home care clients. In fact, over 12 years, there has been no thorough evaluation of the current CCAC delivery model that ensured CCACs were providing consistent and quality care. Mr Speaker, where was the accountability and why over the past 12 years did this government set up CCACs to fail? Okay. Well, thank you, Mr Speaker. I appreciate the question again. And Mr Speaker, we acknowledge that there is much more work to be done. I've accepted all of the recommendations of the Auditor General and her September report. We're working on implementing those. We're working on implementing her recommendations that came out most recently in her annual report. And importantly, Mr Speaker, this work began earlier this year in earnest when we received Gail Donner's report on home and community care that pointed the way and we accepted each one of her recommendations, turning them into an action plan, focusing on the quality of care and the timeliness of providing that care. And I think even the member opposite would agree that what we need to do is we need to continue that transition because innovations allow us to do so, the support that we're able to provide allows us to do so, provide as much of that care as we can in the community and in the home environment. That's what we're working to do. And we know that there's much more work to be done, Mr Speaker. Thank you. What's up, Mr Speaker? Mr Speaker, back to the minister. Speaker, the Auditor General's report revealed that the number of patients served by CCACs has only increased 20 percent. While spending on home care services has almost doubled. This government knows that whenever possible, the ideal place to provide care to seniors is in their own home. Care that prevents expensive hospital visits that maintains their quality of life. Speaker, this government has known for quite some time that our senior population will only continue to grow. Mr Speaker, the CCACs investigated in this report never allocated the maximum number of home care hours it couldn't because of budget constraints. Mr Speaker, why have the Liberals allowed CCAC bureaucracy to eat up 40 percent of home care funding year after year? Thank you again, Mr Speaker. And the member opposite is a healthcare professional and he knows that in recent years, the patients that he's seen or would see now, they're coming to him with increased complexity, increased complexity of care. That's what we're seeing in our home care environment as well, Mr Speaker. And so our ability, fortunately, to address those individuals' needs and their family and caregivers' needs in their home and in their community, our ability to do that has increased, but it also requires those important investments to take advantage of innovations and deliver that quality of care. That's why we continue year after year to the point where almost $5 billion, 10 percent of the healthcare budget is invested in home and community care. That's going up by $250 million this year, $250 million next year and the year after that. And we're making those changes as pointed for us by the auditor general by Gail Donner's report. We're continuing to make those changes to advance the quality of care, Mr. Speaker. Your question to members of the House of Representatives. Thank you, Speaker. And my question is to the acting Premier. Last night was a long and terrible night in Thunder Bay. At the Thunder Bay jail, a correctional officer was taken hostage in a violent takeover of a whole floor of the jail. He was held hostage for four hours and while his safe release was successfully negotiated and he is physically secure, the dangerous crisis situation went through the night and took emergency correctional personnel to finally stop. We commend the correctional officers and crisis teams who spent the night trying to keep everyone safe and secure. We know inmates are again secure as of this morning. Speaker, our jails are plagued by fires, floods, broken cell door locks, understaffing, overcrowding, especially with individuals who haven't been sentenced, drug overdoses and assaults, riots and routine lockdowns and now we have had a violent hostage situation. This government keeps corrections out of sight and out of mind. Question. Will the minister now acknowledge there is a crisis in corrections? Will the minister take responsibility for the violent situation Thunder Bay? Thank you. Thank you. Attorney General. Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that a correction officer was taken hostage last night and as a result of successful negotiations the officer was released. Our thoughts of course with the officer his family, his friends and colleague at this time. Our utmost priority throughout this situation was to bring about a peaceful resolution while ensuring the safety of our staff and the public. The incident was confined to the jail. There was no inmate escapes and no threats to the safety of the general public. The circumstances of this incident are under investigation by the police and the ministry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Supplement. Supplement. Thank you, Speaker. And again, my questions to the acting Premier. Speaker, this morning correctional staff and parole officers across this province started voting on a contract that if voted down will put this province one step closer to a strike or lockout in our jails. At the same time it's being reported that managers will be receiving pay increases. Speaker, we know that while jails stay chronically overcrowded and clearly dangerous the province has built or kept aside bed space for managers in the event of a strike or lockout. The last time there was a lockout the government used managers from other ministries and departments to staff the jails. Speaker, in light of the hostage taking and crisis in Thunder Bay does the Premier does the acting Premier really want unqualified managers from various ministries like finance, the environment or the treasury board running our jails. Thank you. Thank you, Attorney General. The Deputy Premier, please. Speaker. Deputy Premier. And you know there is a ratification process underway. We will let the collective bargaining process work independently, Speaker. We do believe that we have arrived at a deal that is both fair to workers and fair to to the public Speaker. But I have to say that we very much value the work and the dedication of our public servants. They do extraordinary work. We we rely on their advice. We rely on their professionalism. We rely on their expertise to help order Ontario, the very fine place that it is, Speaker. So there is a ratification process underway. We will let the members answer. But I have to say I think this is a good deal for everyone. Thank you. New question. The member from Beaches East York. Well, thank you, Speaker. My question is for the birthday boy. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Appropriate appropriate knowledge please. Withdraw a birthday man. Now climate change is an extraordinarily important issue to my constituents in Beaches East York. And while the Premier is representing our government in Paris at the United Nations Climate Change Conference here at home we have ongoing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And the minister as part of his mandate was directed by the Premier to lead the coordinated review of the growth plan and the green belt plan along with the Niagara escarpment plan and the Oak ridges marine plans. Working closely with the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry his goal is to improve the alignment of investments in transit with the planning and development decisions that will create more complete communities across the province. The review is also motivated by key commitments to protect prime agricultural lands and consultation with farmers. Mr. Speaker yesterday was a milestone with the release of the I stand you set Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thanks Mr. Speaker and thanks to the member from from beaches East York Speaker several months ago our government struck a panel led by the Honorable David Crombie to review the four pieces of legislation mentioned and the panel consisted of key agricultural municipal environmental and developmental sector expertise. Yesterday was a milestone for the panel's work as they presented their report. Grounded in extensive consultation through 17 public meetings attended by over 3,500 people and after receiving over 20,000 individual written submissions they made 87 recommendations. The significant participation and feedback is indicative of how much people want to get engaged in building strong healthy communities and I look forward to having the opportunity with my ministry to review all of those recommendations Thank you. after you charge a your turn to pass the vote. Thank you Speaker and I very much appreciate the Minister's answer and the great work that he continues to do on this file. Now Mr. Speaker the coordinated review has received considerable praise as a shining example of public consultation. The panel and the rest of his team were involved in this important outreach should feel very proud of the diligent work that was done to update and ensure Ontario's views were heard. Speaker we know that better planned communities translated to many benefits including significant savings on infrastructure costs at all levels of government and that means that more money can be spent on transit healthcare and education. It also means less driving and greenhouse gases to help fight climate change. So Speaker through you will the minister tell this House how this report from Mr. Cromby the Honorable Mr. Cromby will be used. Thank you Minister. Again thank you to the questioner the credit belongs entirely to the panel Mr. Speaker a very esteemed group of people who worked hard together to advise us on how best to combat climate change protect agricultural lands water and natural resources to keep people and goods moving and to build healthy communities that will attract workers and jobs. Our government remains committed to working with municipalities to grow the green belt and this report will also help us navigate in this important policy area. The report also will aid our government in ensuring that the greater golden horseshoe Canada's fastest growing urban region and the province's economic engine will be able to accommodate the additional 4.5 million people expected. And sir a member from Timmons James very pleased to come to order. I'm the panel various team group for the great work. I look forward to working with Mr. Cromby and others as we move forward. New question a member from Bruce Cray Owen South. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question is to the associate minister of health and long-term care. The associate minister stated in this house last week that she was building nursing home beds. She claims she put new beds in Thunder Bay Kitchener Waterloo and Windsor. Mr. Speaker nothing could be further from the truth. The facts are she didn't put 500 beds in Thunder Bay the news release talks about home care but not nursing home beds. As for Waterloo Wellington they've actually seen a decrease in the rate of long-term care beds per senior citizen. As for Windsor the minister is rehashing a 2011 announcement. The truth is 2,000 seniors remain without access to a bed. The associate minister needs to own up their mistake and withdraw the erroneous statements. Through you Mr. Speaker I ask will she correct her statement show accountability and immediately release the schedule of all nursing home bed apartments in Ontario. It was like a good idea and it wasn't. Associate minister of health and long-term care. Thank you Mr. Speaker and I thank the member opposite for his question and I'm going to reiterate the fact that we continue to invest in long-term care beds here in Ontario Mr. Speaker and that is why we've added 10,000 beds and counting since we came to office we've redeveloped 13,000 beds. And when I sit I'll wait for the person that tries to get money in. Carry on. Thank you Mr. Speaker I'd like to take a recent example Mr. Speaker this is village at University Gates in Waterloo I was there at the opening on October 30th I was there at the opening on October 30th but it's been in operation for some time and that's 192 new beds. That speaker of the beds we are investing thank you Mr. Speaker The member from Prince Everett Hastings come to order and the member from Hamilton Eastoni Creek come to order supplementary. Thank you Mr. Speaker back to the associate minister. I read it Oh, excuse me I seem to have been challenged as soon as I asked him to be quiet he did it again. Second time for the member from Hamilton Eastoni Creek supplementary. Thank you Mr. Speaker I reiterate where with all due respect this is pure humbug you are not going to build any new long-term nursing care home beds. Is the associate minister even aware that this government has not issued a single announcement on nursing home beds in four years. Wow. This is why her second statement from last week is the one that really takes the cake and I quote but we are not resting on our laurels we have also added beds in Oshawa and of quote now that's just callus the Oshawa Whitney facility was built to replace the one burned down in a fire in 2014 and houses the same residents displaced by that fire. Mr. Speaker this government has been failing our second frail seniors for 12 years through you to the associate minister I ask why make the erroneous statements why won't you just admit you have no intention to build any new nursing home beds. Good question. Minister Thank you Mr. Speaker let me just address the issue of humbug. Member from Prince Edward Hastings second time. You'll get your first. New question. Member from Niagara Falls. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the minister of transportation. Minister yesterday we learned that less than 8 percent of the trucks on our roads receive safety inspections each year and of the trucks that do receive inspections roughly 25 percent of them fail. In 2008 the auditor general revealed serious flaws in our commercial vehicle inspection system. Seven years later it looks like little has changed. Why does the government know only know only risks the safety of Ontarians by allowing so many unsafe trucks onto our roads. Thanks very much speaker. I thank the member from Niagara Falls for his question. I think that one thing he would know because I've said at many times here in the chamber and beyond the chamber speaker that over the last 13 years the province of Ontario has ranked first or second across all of North America for road and highway safety. That's first or second across all categories but in particular speaker over the last number of years the amount of large truck traffic on Ontario's highways has risen dramatically and in that same time period speaker the number of fatalities involving large trucks has dropped precipitously speaker. So again we take into account all of these factors road and highway safety is a paramount concern to this government it's a crucial part of my mandate we will continue to work with the industry we will continue to work with all partners to make sure that we are delivering road and highway safety for the people of Ontario as of course they expect and deserve. Thank you minister I appreciate your answer but as you know and everybody in this house knows because we spoke about it the roads last year in Ontario were unsafe to drive on you know it and everybody else knows it. Thank you Mr. Speaker Minister there is a pattern here this government cuts costs and then it cuts corners in the past few months we have learned about the serious flaws with Ontario privatized truck drivers examination centres we have known for years that privatized winter road maintenance is a mess and seven years after the AG report we are again seeing serious flaws with the commercial vehicle inspection system when will this government stop cutting corners and endangering Ontarians by restoring proper oversight on the safety of our highways our kids and our grandkids deserve no better Thank you I think the member opposite speaker meant no less I'm to happy to help him with his questions in the future I suppose but I you know speaker to be really to be really clear about the speaker you know I know it might not fit with the opposition's narrative around these issues speaker but I mean the results are clear and I couldn't be any more clear about this 13 years in a row 13 years in a row speaker the roads and highways in this province have ranked first or second in North America in terms of road and highway safety speaker so I mean I said that earlier I'll continue to say that speaker we have to remember as well between 2002 and 2011 speaker I said this earlier we have seen the number of fatalities involving large trucks declined by 41 percent speaker each and every single year the Ministry of Transportation enforcement officers conduct more than 110,000 commercial inspections annually speaker it is this working together of course working together speaker for all of these reasons we continue to deliver road and highway safety in this province that the people deserve thanks for that thank you new question the member from new market of work thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of natural resources and forestry the forestry sector is an important industry for our province Mr. Speaker employing nearly 170,000 people and generating more than 11 billion dollars for Ontario's economy trade with the United States is significant to this sector generating exports valued at close to 5 billion dollars and accounted for as much as 95 percent of Ontario's forestry and wood product manufacturing exports recently the nearly decade long softwood lumber agreement between the US and Canada expired discussions about this agreement and any future softwood lumber trade agreements between the governments of Canada and the United States will have significant effect on Ontario's forestry sector speaker can the minister tell us about the current status of the softwood lumber agreement question taken minister natural resources and forestry speaker thank you very much I want to thank the member from new market Aurora for this question the the softwood lumber agreement speaker is obviously very important to us here in our ministry and to the forest product sector in Ontario the agreement first pinned in 2006 speaker expired in 2013 there have been two subsequent one-year extensions of that agreement it's fully expired as of October of this year we now find ourselves speaker in a situation contained in the original 2006 agreement that is referred to as a standstill period what that means speaker is there is about one year of what would be considered to be free trade between Ontario as a forest products exporter in the United States where they have agreed in the 06 agreement not to import any duties or taxes on the exporting industry in Ontario this is a period of time where we need to be vigilant and working towards the new agreement we are reaching out to our federal partners who are obviously the lead on the file speaker seeing what we can do to prepare ourselves thank you for the end of the standstill well thank you minister for the update on the current status of the process it's important that this is a priority for you and the ministry of natural resources and I'm satisfied that it is it's also clear that this agreement is complex and complicated to negotiate right at the same time as negotiations move along issues may develop in a rapid manner this will require Ontario be prepared to quickly respond to requests for information and proposals can the minister tell us how his ministry is working with the industry other levels of government and other stakeholders to ensure continued access to the important U.S. market for our softwood lumber products the speaker again I want to thank the the member from new market Aurora for the question speaker we have spent a great deal of time in our industry or in our ministry rather reaching out to the industry on this particular file there are three major softwood lumber exporters in the province of Ontario Resolute AECOM and Tembeck of course there are others in the industry who export into the market they are the three biggest players speaker most of their product does go to the U.S. we've also been in contact with Ontario's trade reps in Washington and as I mentioned in my opening remarks speaker we have been out or have done outreach to our federal counterparts we're looking to sit down as soon as we can with our new federal ministers who have their hands on this file as I mentioned earlier they are the lead but we will do everything that we can to ensure that Ontario's interests are represented in federally led negotiations with our American partners on this speaker we understand fully the importance of this industry in Ontario and we understand very clearly the importance of this industry to northern Ontario specifically speaker and we'll do everything that we can to present their interest thank you good question the member from Foran Hill to the minister of health and long-term care Mr. Speaker we are joined in the gallery today by patients and their families suffering from a brain-threatening disease called PKU as the minister knows PKU is a hereditary illness that you find in one in every 12,000 newborns in Canada the new medication has been approved in 2010 and was classified in 2013 single Ontario patient has gained access to Kuvan due to this government's highly restrictive criteria in fact people who have applied for this treatment were rejected the kids has actually filed a complaint to the college of physicians and surgeons because of frustration with this government's mishandling of the file Mr. Speaker let me say it again not one single patient has received question that government officials have approved is this fair to you Thank you Mr. Speaker I appreciate the question I think the member opposite knows that we took the politics out of funding drugs in this province and our decisions on which drugs to fund are based on science and evidence Mr. Speaker in the case of Kuvan in 2011 the national common drug review issued a do not list recommendation for the drug twice the province reviewed Kuvan both reviews resulting in a do not list recommendation but despite three negative recommendations Mr. Speaker Ontario in February of 2013 since that time we have been funding through our exceptional access program Kuvan on a case by case basis the criteria for funding were established with input from the manufacturer and from clinicians who treat PKU in June of this year the manufacturer Biomeran informed the ministry that they now intend to file a resubmission to the common drug review we look forward to seeing that submission and reviewing it for the fourth time Mr. Speaker to supplementary again to the minister I think the question here is that the criteria is too difficult and the government knows that two years ago all of Ontario specialists who treat PKU wrote to the government to express their concerns with the criteria they have given suggested revisions in order to be sure that patients would receive the treatment they really need but to date these experts were ignored again written to you to express their continued frustration at the lack of Kuvan access in Ontario Mr. President Mr. Speaker a page will give to the minister a medical proof that says that we have to modify those criteria a proof that the ministry has chosen to ignore so these patients can receive the treatment they desperately need Thank you Mr. Speaker and I do want to acknowledge the advocates and patients who are here today this is an incredibly challenging and life threatening illness but Mr. Speaker Saskatchewan is the only other Canadian jurisdiction to list Kuvan with precisely the same criteria as Ontario BC chose not to list the drug Quebec funds maternal PKU which is the case in Ontario as well this indication is also covered in Ontario and Quebec considers other requests on a case by case basis Alberta was identified by advocates as funding we found out that this was through a temporary disability program Alberta no longer funds PKU it's not funded in the UK it's not funded in New Zealand we need to be consistent Mr. Speaker take the politics out of this make our decisions based on science and good evidence notwithstanding that Mr. Speaker we have made this drug available on an exceptional access basis to those individuals who truly do need it where it has been proven to be beneficial Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the acting Premier this morning Londoners learned that 500 surgeries in our local hospitals will be cancelled to be rescheduled at a later date this means that 500 patients who've already been waiting in pain for up to two years will be forced to wait even longer one of my constituents Brian Peck was told in November 2014 that he needed a hip replacement but it may not be scheduled until the end of 2016 he is using a walker and has already fallen three times because of his hip the surgeon says he will probably be in a wheelchair by the time he gets the surgery Speaker the hospitals say they've run out of money the Lynn blames the hospitals for booking too many surgeries my question is who in this Liberal government is looking out for patients for these 500 people in London who are now facing a healthcare crisis Minister of health and long-term care well thank you Mr. Speaker this is obviously an extremely important issue and we have an expectation that both through our lens and the hospitals directly that they continue to work together closely not only within the fiscal framework provided to them but in a manner importantly and critically Mr. Speaker that maintains and enhances the quality of care that's provided for those that depend on that resource so our expectation in this is all cases that patient care will not be impacted I do need to point out Mr. Speaker that our funding to the London Health Sciences Centre has risen by 72% over the last decade an increase of more than $316 million we have we have a commitment to make sure that that level of service that the individuals in London in the London area deserve that service is available and provided to them few supplementary the member from London Fanshawe Speaker back to the acting Premier wait times already longer in London than other parts of the province and surgeries in our hospitals keep getting cancelled in March I stood up in this house and I asked the minister to stop the cuts to elective surgeries that month the minister refused now it's happening again 500 patients in London will wait even longer for surgery because this Liberal government failed to do its job will this Liberal government take responsibility and stop the latest cuts to surgeries or will the acting Premier make more excuses and force 500 patients to wait even longer which is it Speaker I do remember distinctly when the member opposite raised this about a year ago or just under a year ago in that case it was her assumption that these were cuts or somehow unpredictable in fact they were part of regularly scheduled closures of the OR that occurs in a number of hospitals or is reduced in a number of hospitals over the holiday season Mr Speaker in this case I will certainly investigate what the particulars of this allegation are but I do maintain my commitment and responsibility to ensure that the quality of care provided through that hospital as others throughout the provinces maintain and I will be following up directly with the hospital as well as the Lynn Mr Speaker Thank you new question the member from Sudbury Mr Speaker Mr Speaker my question is for the Minister of Northern Development and Mines Mr Speaker Ontario has a rich and long mining heritage that has created wealth and helped to build our province into what it is today but Mr Speaker every now and then in communities across Ontario there are former mine sites that need to be rehabilitated Mr Speaker I'm proud to be a member of a government that understands that cleaning up these sites helps to protect the environment as well as the health and well-being of all Ontarians So Mr Speaker would the Minister of Northern Development and Mines share with this House how our government continues to ensure that our environment is protected and abandoned mine sites question cleaned up Thank you very much Mr Speaker that's just a great question very timely question from the member for Sudbury and certainly obviously a great advocate for the mining industry but a very strong advocate for the environment as well and much appreciated and the truth is our government takes the health and safety of all Ontarians very very seriously that's why we're committed through the Abandoned Mines Rehabilitation Program to ensure that abandoned mines are indeed rehabilitated and since the beginning of the Abandoned Mines Rehabilitation Program we've undertaken rehabilitation on 80 of the highest priority abandoned mine sites located throughout the province and this Mr Speaker this work demonstrates our very strong commitment to a sustainable mining industry that works to ensure protection of the environment and provides substantive and sustainable benefits to our residents and our communities Thank you Mr Speaker and I'm certainly pleased to hear the Minister speak to the important work our government is doing to ensure abandoned mine sites located throughout Ontario are cleaned up to protect our natural environment the Abandoned Mines Rehabilitation Program is an integral part of Ontario's Mining Act Mr Speaker which is administered by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines so Mr Speaker since 2003 the government has invested in this program and communities across Ontario are seeing the benefits so Mr Speaker through you to the Minister how is our government protecting the environment while ensuring the mining industry is properly prepared to fulfill their duty to rehabilitate their mining sites Thank you and again Mr Speaker I'm very grateful because quite frankly I don't think there's enough known about this incredibly important program since 2003 our government has allocated over $100 million to the Abandoned Mines Rehabilitation Program it supported the rehabilitation of mine sites in many communities certainly the Camcocia site outside the Timmins is a great example Bancroft Sudbury many other locations as well we are very committed to the protection of the environment by ensuring that all mining projects also obtain necessary provincial environmental approvals and permits and an appropriate consultation with the public and of course Aboriginal communities that takes place it's incredibly important and we are very committed to that and under the mining app Mr Speaker Thank you mining companies must submit closure plan closure and rehabilitation plans to our ministry again something I don't think that is well known by the public this is important yeah thank you no question the member from Nipissing thank you very much and good morning speaker my question is for the deputy premier residents in northeastern Ontario didn't need the auditor general to tell us the Lynn has done a terrible job delivering health care but thanks to the auditor she's confirmed what northerners are feeling the northeast Lynn was tied for the worst in the province meeting just four of the 15 targets they are worse in alternate level of care days second worse in waste wait times for ccac in home services and they're one of only two lins not meeting the target of providing cancer care surgery within 84 days the ineptness of the northeast Lynn is nothing new just sad to see that it still continues i asked the deputy premier question what is her plan to improve health care for northerners thank you the minister of health and long-term care the minister of health long-term care thank you mr speaker and i know it's the agenda of the member opposite in his party to get rid of the lins and fire the workers that are providing that integrated health care and coordinating health care at the local level and i know it's the mandate and the aim of the party opposite to dissolve the Lynn boards that are comprised of local community members who frankly mr speaker best know what the unique and specific health care needs of those communities are so mr speaker are the auditor general has in point and has pointed to some important recommendations where we need to improve the functioning the lins we intend to take those recommendations we're very seriously mr speaker we will invest in those recommendations to ensure that the quality of care and the level of integration is uh is what it needs to be mr speaker but i'm not going to uh answer the path that the member opposite wants to go down mr speaker we believe in the importance of local decision making we will continue to support that thank you supplementary back to the deputy premier well speaker they're the only party firing 350 health care workers in the city of orc bear at zero of their 15 performance targets any other organization would have made management changes immediately but what did they do at the northeast linn instead they spent over 750 000 dollars to renovate their offices the auditor was clear she said quote the ministry does not consistently consistently hold lins accountable when they do not meet their targets well no kidding deputy the buck stops with your government i asked speaker what change does the government plan to make sure that the northeast linn ensures health care dollars are spent on patients not on leather chairs and fence thank you minister well mr. speaker i know that the member opposite has an agenda to to discredit the lins to eventually result in their dissolution we don't subscribe to that view we actually believe of the paramount importance that we give local decision makers to a community board finish please where we give decision making responsibilities to a the member from renfrew nipissing timbroke ward no no we have all kinds of time it's not just four seconds to be any time finish please to give that responsibility to local decision makers mr. speaker we've increased the funding to the northeast lint to over 1.4 billion dollars this year our funding for ccac is increased by 50 percent despite what the pcs would like the public to believe we have a strong record of providing quality health care in the northern part of this province mr. speaker thank you the member from renfrew nipissing timbroke on a point of order yes thank you very very much speaker i did speak to the house earlier today and i said i had some big news and i wanted to confirm that i just received some vital statistics on the arrival of our newest grandchild 10 pounds 12 ounces 22 inches long he's already bigger than vik fedeli that's actually not a point of order but it was a good one we have a deferred vote on the motion for third reading a bill 122 an act to amend the mental health act and the health care consent act 1996 calling the members this will be a five-minute bill all members please take your seats on december 7 2015 mr. hosskins moved third reading a built 122 an act to amend the mental health act and the health care consent act 1996 all those in favor please rise one at a time and be recognized by the price mr. hossk mr. r duel mr. shurelli mr. shurelli at my ear at my ear mr. susan mr. susan mr. matthew mr. matthew mr. sandals mr. sandals mr. dugud mr. dugud mr. mccharles mr. mccharles mr. quinter mr. quinter mr. coal mr. coal mr. ta car mr. ta car mr. bRL mr. bRL mr. bRL mr. dylaney mr. dilany mr. dylan mr. dylan mr. dylan Mr. Gravel, Mr. McMeekin, Mr. Cham, Mr. Moriti, Mr. Quoteau, Mr. Leo, Mr. Flynn, Mr. Zimmer, Mr. Zimmer, Madame Lalonde, Mr. Quadri, Mr. Balkas, Mr. Albanese, Mr. Manga, Mr. Crac, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Sergio, Mr. Moro, Mr. Jasek, Mr. Del Ducat, Mr. Donalon, Mr. Wong, Mr. Frazer, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Baker, Mr. Balkas, Mr. Ballas, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Kuala, Mr. Molleg, Mrs. Marcus, Mrs. McGarry, Mr. Miltjen, Mr. Midu Harris, Mr. Pots, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Reneal, Mr. Tebowl, Mr. Yurek, Mr. Hardiman, Mr. McCoy, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Brown, Mr. Clark, Mr. Fidelli, Mr. Yacobusky, Mr. Miller-Parisel Mascopa, Mr. Scott, Mrs. Monroe, Mr. McLaren, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Walker, Mr. Smith, Mr. Harris, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Marteau, Mr. McDonnell, Mr. Pettipies, Madam Jelena, Mr. Bisson, Mr. Vantau, Mr. Miller-Hamilton, East Stony Creek, Mr. Miller-Hamilton, East Stony Creek, Ms. Sattler, Ms. Taylor, Ms. Taylor, Mr. Natascha, Ms. Armstrong, Ms. Feis, Ms. Forrester, Ms. Montau, Mr. Hatfield, Ms. Gretzky, Mr. Gates, Ms. French. All those opposed please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk. The eyes are 91, the nays are zero. The eyes being 91 and the nays being zero, I declare the motion carried. We have resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion. We have a deferred vote on the government notice of motion number 60, time allocation of bill 109, calling the members. This will be a five-minute bell. On December the 8th, 2015, Mr. Raquel moved to notice of motion number 60. All those in favor of the motion please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk. Mr. Bradley. Mr. Shirella. Mr. Paul. Mr. David. Mr. Miguel. Mr. Mr. Harris Mrs. Nichols Mr. Nichols Mrs. Marto Mr. McDonnell Mr. McDonnell Mr. Pettipies Mr. Pettipies Mr. Bissons Mr. Bissons Mr. Bantot Mr. Vanthau Mr. Miller Hamilton East Stony Creek Mr. Miller Hamilton East Stony Creek Ms. Sattler Ms. Sattler Ms. Taylor Mr. Nathesha Ms. Nathesha Ms. Armstrong Ms. Amjelina Ms. Amjelina Ms. Fyfe Ms. Fyfe Ms. Forster Ms. Forster Mr. Monta Mr. Monta Mr. Hatfield The ayes being 54 and the nays being 37. I declare the motion carried. The chief covered the whip on a point of order. On a point of order listen I wouldn't have not done my job I forgot to mention someone else's birthday today that is class of 2014 our newest colleague Yvonne Baker. Happy birthday Yvonne. Go for the member from Meglington Lawrence on a point of order. Since there's people from all over Ontario here in support of bill 141 the pregnancy and infant loss bill I want to let them know that the bill passed through unanimous consent of all parties. Thank you. This will vote this house stands recessed until 3 p.m. this afternoon.