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October 22, 2018

42nd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2018-Oct-22 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 22 October 2018 Lundi 22 octobre 2018

Introduction of Visitors

Gaétan Gervais

Oral Questions

Sexual assault crisis centres

Police services

Government spending

Taxation

Addiction services

Public safety

Indigenous power project

Sexual assault crisis centres

Taxation

Government services

Public consultation

Human trafficking

Automobile insurance

Post-secondary education and skills training

Northern transportation

Correction of record

Deferred Votes

Time allocation

Member’s birthday

Member’s engagement

Member’s birthday

Members’ Statements

Mental health

Gaétan Gervais

World Polio Day

Leonard “Red” Kelly

Mental health

Education funding

Persons Day

Highway safety

Made in York Region

ABB Burlington

Private members’ public business

Introduction of Bills

Terrorist Activities Sanctions Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 punissant de sanctions les activités terroristes

Petitions

Employment standards

Northern health services

Climate change

Wearing of poppies

Mental health services

Injured workers

Poet laureate

Indigenous affairs

Gasoline prices

Services de santé dans le Nord

Correction of record

Orders of the Day

Standing orders

Green Energy Repeal Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 abrogeant la

Loi sur l’énergie verte

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Let us begin by pausing for a moment of silence for inner thought and personal reflection.

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Stephen Crawford: It’s great to be here on a Monday. I’d like to introduce my inspiration for public service: my father, Mr. William Crawford.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: It’s my pleasure to introduce to the House a wonderful resident of Huron–Bruce, Sandy McLeod. Thank you very much.

Mr. Doug Downey: I’d like to introduce Caius, who was a page here in March of this year, and his mother, Rebecca, who joins us.

Mr. Faisal Hassan: I would like to welcome grade 5 students from St. Bernard Catholic School, who are visiting us here today. They will be joining us shortly.

Mr. David Piccini: I’d like to introduce my good friend Korey Walker, who is with us today. He is from the great riding of Peterborough–Kawartha, just to the north of me. It’s great to have such a good friend in Queen’s Park today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I would like to inform the House that we have with us today, in the Speaker’s gallery, teachers from across the province who are participating in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Teacher’s Forum. Please join me in warmly welcoming our province’s educators to the Legislative Assembly today.

We also have with us today a special guest, the Deputy Clerk of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia, Mr. Robert McDonald. Please join me in welcoming him to the Legislature today.

I’m also pleased to introduce the consul general of Turkey, Erdeniz Sen, whom I met with earlier today. Welcome. It’s great to have you here as well.

I’m going to recognize—oh, a point of order? Or is it an introduction of guests? Introduction of guests, the member for Etobicoke Centre.

Miss Kinga Surma: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise this morning to welcome, from my riding, the delegation from Consulting Engineers of Ontario, led by their chair, Mr. Jeremy Carkner of Morrison Hershfield. CEO is here today at the Legislature for their fourth annual Queen’s Park Day. We have had a welcome reception this morning and will be meeting with some of my colleagues later today to discuss my favourite subject, infrastructure.

Ms. Jill Dunlop: I’d like to recognize my guest today: Richard Longtin from Lakehead University.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I’d like to welcome the family of Jacob Riddell, our wonderful page from Newmarket–Aurora, to Queen’s Park today.

Gaétan Gervais

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the member for Nickel Belt on a point of order.

I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent to hold a moment of silence in honour of the passing of Gaétan Gervais, who was the co-creator of our beautiful Franco-Ontarian flag.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Nickel Belt is seeking unanimous consent of the House to have a moment of silence in memory of Gaétan Gervais. Agreed? Agreed.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

Oral Questions

Sexual assault crisis centres

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, my first question this morning is to the Acting Premier. Women fleeing domestic violence or surviving a sexual assault desperately need a place to turn to when they’re looking for help. The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres has been left waiting for funding that they had been anticipating for months. They have been told it’s on pause. How long is this pause going to take?

Hon. Christine Elliott: To the Attorney General.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Mr. Speaker, through you to the Leader of the Opposition: As I said last week in this House, we take the issue of women fleeing violence very seriously, and the funding necessary is something that we are looking at very closely. We don’t want to rush it. We want to make sure that we are providing the appropriate services across our government to support women who are fleeing violence, to make sure they get out of those situations and they get the services they need.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, perhaps the government side doesn’t know that women fleeing violence can’t put their lives on pause. The government seems uninterested in providing support to women who desperately need it.

But on some issues, the money flows very easily. Last week, the Premier announced that he would be giving his former campaign tour director a plum posting in Washington and a $75,000-a-year raise.

Can the Acting Premier explain why women should wait when he didn’t pause to hand his friend a $75,000 raise?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Mr. Speaker, we have been working since June 7, since we were elected, to find ways to address the issues of concern across this province. I have been working closely with my colleague the minister of women and children to make sure that we are providing the supports they need.

The organizations that have been funded provide important services, and we recognize that. But as you know, we were left with a legacy of deficit and debt from the previous government, so we need to make sure that we provide funding in a sustainable way to the people in this province who need it. That is exactly what we are doing.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Start the clock. Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I certainly don’t recall this government talking about putting women at further risk of sexual assault in their campaign, Speaker. We are getting a clearer sense, however, of exactly where this government’s priorities lie.

When women seeking support after sexual assault are told to wait and see if the counselling support they need is going to get funded, while the government strips them of their right to take time off work, and dismantles the programs designed to help them, for these women the cupboard is bare.

But when it comes to funding a patronage post for well-connected buddies of the Premier, this government can’t move fast enough.

How does the Acting Premier justify this?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: I reject the premise. We have been working non-stop, since we were elected, to provide the support. Women fleeing domestic violence are supported by this government, and will continue to be supported by this government in a sustainable way. We are looking across our government to make sure that we provide sustainable ways to do that, unlike the previous government, which was setting people up for supports that are non-sustainable. We are working to do so in an efficient and effective way.

Police services

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Acting Premier.

I could say that we do agree with what the Attorney General just said: They have been working non-stop to cut funding to those vulnerable Ontarians who live in our province. That’s what they’ve been doing, Speaker.

Already Ontarians have seen services and programs that they need cut by this government, and it seems that even the police, who keep our communities safe, aren’t immune from this government’s cuts.

Can the Acting Premier confirm that her government has pressed the pause button on provincial grants that police forces were relying on for their budgets?

Hon. Christine Elliott: To the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Mr. Speaker, as we’ve said in the past, the number one priority for us is to ensure public safety. As you may know, the government continues to review expenditures in light of the government’s fiscal state. This will allow our government for the people to inform service delivery planning as part of a multi-year planning process. As such, disbursement of funds under my ministry’s grant programs are currently on hold. However, we will continue to work with our public safety partners to ensure they have the tools necessary to do their jobs both safely and effectively.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Kingston police say “all bets are off” if they don’t receive the provincial grants they were expecting this year. But they’ve been told this government has pressed pause on grants that support programs like crisis outreach and support teams that pair front-line police officers with mental health professionals to go to calls where somebody may be in mental health distress. Now those grants are in doubt, and police force budgets are in jeopardy.

Can the Acting Premier explain why police and people in mental health crisis are facing cuts?

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: As we’ve stated from the very beginning, one of the things that we’re looking at is ensuring that there is an integrated approach to policing. One of the things that we are looking at and one of the things that I’ve done is, I’ve gone around the province and had the opportunity to sit in different vehicles, including with Hamilton police and with Toronto police. In each of these different situations, I had the opportunity to see the COAST team at work and to see the different types of strategies that are in place. These are things that this government fully supports, is funding and will continue to fund going forward.

One of the things that we are keen on doing is ensuring that we have proactive policing, policing that will provide supports to individuals before they get into trouble, by having them embedded within the school system, and also to make sure they are part of the safety network that we have working throughout the whole province.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Once again, this is about priorities. When it comes to funding for local police services and grants that help people who are in mental health crisis, the cupboard is absolutely bare. But when it comes to jobs for the Acting Premier’s friends and Conservative insiders, the sky seems to be the limit.

How can the Acting Premier tell police that the cupboard is bare when they’re handing $75,000 in pay hikes to the Premier’s friends?

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Mr. Speaker, as we’ve said time and time again, public safety is a concern to this government. One of the things that we have done is invest a lot of time and a lot of energy across the board—from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Health, to housing, to policing—and what we’ve determined is that what needs to take place is an integrated approach both to mental health and to how the government operates.

Unlike the past, where empty promises have been made, this government is taking steps to ensure that a fiscally responsible plan is in place, and that we’re able to provide services not only during the period of time where policing may be involved but prior to that. Being proactive is something that this government is doing in a responsible way to ensure that the citizens of this province are taken care of and that we live in a much more balanced and secure way—and fiscally responsible, which is something a lot of people seem to forget about in this House.

Government spending

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, my next question is again for the Acting Premier.

Let’s look at another support that this government is pulling. Parents volunteer thousands of hours in our schools every year, working hard to make a better school system for their kids. Last year they organized thousands of events across the province to help other parents deal with everything from cyberstalking and peer pressure to helping their kids be successful in math and science. Why has the government cut the funding these parents rely on?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Minister of Education.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: I would suggest that the entire Ontario government on this side of the House would strongly recommend—

Interjection: And the other side too.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: And the other side, yes, absolutely—would respectfully recommend to this Leader of the Opposition and her entire party that they stop fear-mongering.

We are doing a line-by-line audit, and we’re making sure that we are on track in making proper investments—a return on investment that is going to benefit parents and students and ultimately our overall learning environment in the classroom.

We have had enough of the nonsense coming from that side of the House. We’re being respectful of taxpayer dollars, and we are going to get it right after the mess that we had to endure after 15 years of mismanagement.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members take their seats.

Start the clock. Supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, do you know what? Across Ontario, we’re hearing from people affected by the cuts from this government. The minister can make whatever kinds of sticks-and-stones comments she wants, but we’re doing our jobs. We’re doing our jobs for the people of Ontario.

From parents who have lost programs that help them teach kids and keep them safe, to people who provide counselling and support, to survivors of sexual assault, to police who are on the front lines of Ontario’s mental health crisis, they are seeing cuts and pauses. There’s no way that the government can pretend that’s not happening.

But if you’re a friend of the Premier, this government can’t move fast enough to hand you a $75,000 pay hike. What message does the Acting Premier think that that sends to the people of Ontario?

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: I’m pleased to stand on behalf of our government to absolutely reject the premise that this Leader of the Opposition is trying to portray—

Interjection: Cuts, cuts, cuts.

Hon. Todd Smith: Hasn’t been any.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: —because there hasn’t been any. I think Ontarians across this province are going to be actually respecting the thoughtful manner in which our President of the Treasury Board, our Minister of Finance, our entire cabinet and ultimately our entire caucus are moving forward and respecting taxpayer dollars. The party with taxpayers’ dollars is over. After 15 years of absolute waste, this government is going to get it right and we’re going to take our time in doing so.

Taxation

Miss Kinga Surma: My question is for the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

We’ve made it very clear that our focus is on ensuring that hard-working people are not held back by unnecessary taxes—taxes that the Green Party, the NDP and the federal government have made clear that they agree with. These taxes will impact Ontario’s hard-working families in more than just one way. Just this past Friday, the National Airlines Council of Canada sent a letter indicating that a price on carbon could result in the increased cost of flights and in turn push jobs into the United States.

Can the minister explain to us how the removal of the cap-and-trade carbon tax will in turn help the families of Ontario?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Mr. Speaker, through you to the member from Etobicoke Centre, thank you for the question. As she mentioned and as has been mentioned, this government has made a priority about affordability for Ontario families. The members of the NDP and the Green Party have called for a $150-a-tonne carbon tax. What that means is a 35-cents-a-litre increase, or $216 per month, in natural gas prices.

Both the NDP and the Green Party ran on the idea that people weren’t taxed enough. We actually believe that Ontario families are taxed too much. Eliminating cap-and-trade will put $260 back in the pockets of Ontario families. Our government has promised this and will be true to our word. We will implement a made-in-Ontario solution around climate change, one that balances a healthy economy, a healthy environment, and doesn’t punish Ontario families.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Miss Kinga Surma: I thank the minister for his response. Back to the minister again: It is no surprise that the man-made global problem of climate change threatens the beauty that we so often take for granted. This summer, we saw increased forest fires and storms, resulting in floods and power outages.

Ontario is blessed with magnificent forests, lakes and rivers. Those of us who call Ontario home couldn’t ask for a better place to live, work and raise a family. The quality of life enjoyed by our people as well as the success of our businesses depend on having clean air to breathe, safe water to drink and well-protected lands and parks.

Can the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks explain what his made-in-Ontario plan will focus on?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Mr. Speaker, through you to the member: Climate change does present a significant risk, and we are addressing it. We also need to make sure that we have a plan in place for clean air, clean water and clean land. This is why we’re committed to climate change but also in the context of a balanced plan that protects the economy while it protects the environment.

There is now consultation open, and has been for a week, at www.ontario.ca/climatechange where we are getting feedback from Ontarians on how to ensure we have a prosperous economy but also ensure that we tackle this important problem. This fall, we’ll present our balanced plan, a plan that deals with clean air, deals with clean water, deals with clean lands, addresses climate change, and appreciates that Ontarians have made great commitments—but we’ll still do more—but doesn’t punish Ontario families, Mr. Speaker.

Addiction services

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: My question is to the Minister of Health. For months, experts, health care professionals and front-line harm reduction workers have said the evidence is clear: Overdose prevention sites save lives. Now, after an estimated 200 deaths since the unnecessary review started, the government has finally announced that they will allow overdose prevention to continue to operate in Ontario.

However, the government is capping the number of sites to 21, which allows no new sites to open. Can the minister explain why there is a hard cap of 21 sites?

Hon. Christine Elliott: I am very pleased to have made the announcement today that the government has decided to proceed with consumption and treatment centres that will run across the province. This is something that the previous government did not do. They were trying to prevent overdose deaths, of course, but they were doing nothing to get people into treatment and rehabilitation. Treatment and rehabilitation are the ultimate goal.

I think there is also an amount of money that we can spend. We are going to spend $331.3 million on these treatment sites. But I think it also needs to be remembered that this is one step along the treatment process. We are also going to spend $3.8 billion to create a comprehensive and coordinated mental health and addictions program, which is going to mean that we are going to need more detox beds, more mental health services, housing and all of the other services that are necessary. So this is one piece in a very big picture.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: Back to the minister: There are 18 sites currently operating in Ontario, and three sites in Parkdale, Thunder Bay and St. Catharines that were on pause. That’s 21 sites already. Cities like Thunder Bay, which had their sanctioned site paused, had applied for a second site to open over the summer, because evidence shows that they have the highest overdose rate in the entire province.

Is the minister prepared to look at evidence for the need for new sites as they emerge?

Hon. Christine Elliott: There are currently 18 sites open. They will all be able to apply, under the new criteria, as consumption and treatment centres. There are the three sites that were paused—you’re absolutely correct—in Thunder Bay, in St. Catharines and in Parkdale. They will all be allowed to open as they submit their applications.

Other areas may also submit applications as well, but the determination is going to be made on if they meet the criteria, first of all, if there is a need in the community, where the locations of other services are and the ability of those centres to provide the wraparound services that people are going to need.

Because it’s not a question of having a safe injection site to prevent overdoses—that is very important—but it’s also about having the access to detox beds, the mental health and addiction services, the housing, the employment services and all of those other services that we need. That will be taken—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Order.

Start the clock. New question.

Public safety

Mr. Dave Smith: My question today is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

I’ve been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people who have reached out to me, concerned about our ability to keep our communities safe. Individuals in foreign prisons are set to return to this province after fighting for ISIS and other terrorist organizations. Justin Trudeau’s failure is not acceptable.

We cannot stand by while convicted terrorists are set to return to Ontario and enjoy all of the privileges of this province. Terrorists who commit barbaric violence do not deserve to be welcomed with a tray of milk and cookies from Justin Trudeau.

Minister, could you please update the members of this Legislature on what our government for the people is doing to send a message to address these indefensible crimes?

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: I want to thank and commend the member from Peterborough–Kawartha for doing what is right and taking the necessary steps to ensure that the Terrorist Activity Sanctions Act is brought before this Legislature. Those who choose to leave our country and this great province to take up arms against our men and women in uniform, civilian populations and our allies in no way deserve to be welcomed back to this province with open arms.

The federal government has failed to act or to do what they should be doing, and our government for the people is taking real action and delivering on promises to enhance and restore public safety throughout this great province.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Start the clock. Supplementary?

Mr. Dave Smith: I thank the minister for his response. The people of this great province must know that our government is listening and we’re working hard to enhance and restore public safety.

Speaker, Justin Trudeau’s government is not providing the safety and security that Ontarians expect. Those who commit indefensible, heinous crimes deserve to be severely punished. The Trudeau government is not acting. Far too many Ontarians are concerned for their safety and the safety of their families.

To the minister: Could you please explain the steps that our government for the people is taking to keep our communities safe from those who are willingly choosing to commit barbaric crimes?

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for this important question. The people of this great province are fed up. They deserve to know that their government will not let convicted terrorists walk around freely without any consequences. These criminals do not deserve to be provided with the same privileges as law-abiding Ontarians. Accordingly, our government is taking action that is required to ensure these individuals are appropriately punished. Our government for the people remains committed to keeping our communities safe. We will continue to be clear in our message that there will be consequences for those who choose to leave Ontario to commit indefensible crimes.

Indigenous power project

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Remarks in Oji-Cree.

This question is to the Minister of Energy. Several weeks ago, I stood in this House to remark about the tragic suicide of 13-year-old Karlena Kamenawatamin from Bearskin Lake. I mentioned how Karlena and her family had gone over seven years—seven years—without running water or electricity in their home, a state of affairs that would outrage anyone if this happened to them or their family. Ontario Hydro remotes had made the decision to cut the electricity to Karlena’s family for reasons beyond their control.

So, Speaker, I am left to wonder: Where else in this province would Ontario Hydro be allowed to get away with such an action?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I appreciate the honourable member’s question.

Of course, we’re working on a comprehensive plan to ensure that all of northern Ontario—all of Ontario but, frankly, northern Ontario, if I may—has the kind of reliable energy system that serves both families in isolated and remote communities as well as existing industries, that we can be competitive, that we have an opportunity to ensure that, during the harshest of temperatures, the coldest of winters, families and businesses can continue to operate with a safe, contiguous electricity system.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Ontario Hydro remotes currently operates in 24 fly-in First Nations communities in northern Ontario, but clearly something is not working.

One solution may be the Wataynikaneyap transmission project. Wataynikaneyap means “line that brings light.” It’s a project of 22 First Nations that will connect 17 remote First Nations communities that are still reliant on diesel fuel for power. Better lives and more opportunity for youth in the Far North is something I believe all members in this House can support, so that all other Indigenous youth will not have to grow up the way Karlena did.

Speaker, I ask the Premier and the Minister of Energy and Indigenous Affairs: Will they commit today to support the Watay Power project?

Hon. Greg Rickford: After more than eight years of my life living and working in these isolated communities and seeing first-hand the unreliability of diesel—certainly, the costs and the environmental consequences of it—there is no question that a comprehensive plan for energy transmission throughout northern Ontario, particularly in northwestern Ontario—as the member points out, more than 25 isolated communities have an incredible opportunity. It isn’t just about energy transmission. It’s about bundles for technology. It’s about roadways.

I don’t think anything could be more important, when we look at north-south corridors, east-west corridors or east-west ties, than that we ensure, moving forward, that all of our communities, including the isolated and remote communities that rely on sources of energy that must change over the course of time—didn’t over more than 15 years. As we say in northern Ontario, the decade and a half of darkness will be changed under this government.

Sexual assault crisis centres

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde: Ma question est pour la ministre déléguée à la Condition feminine. Every day, more women come forward to access services from sexual assault centres, also known as rape crisis centres. As of today, there has been no increase in funding to address that demand.

As many women have stood up in this chamber before me, I would like to acknowledge their bravery and say, I stand with you and I believe you.

Less than 10% of victims report their sexual assault to police. The 90% who don’t go to the police are those who are often forgotten in this equation.

Under the former government, we promised a 33% funding increase for these centres, which provide life-saving services for those who have experienced sexual violence. The funding bump of 33% would have been a significant increase, allowing centres to hire extra counsellors to decrease wait times, and enhance their services by providing much education.

The minister cannot hide this anymore. So what we would like to know is, will she commit today to maintaining this funding increase?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thanks to the member opposite for the question. I’ve never been accused of hiding anything in my life.

Here we are today talking about a very important issue, one that I have talked about extensively since I was appointed to this cabinet on June 29, and that is the support for women fleeing domestic violence, those who are dealing with rape and those who are being human-trafficked. I’ve taken that seriously. I’ve raised these issues on the floor of the Legislature, and I’m really excited that on Thursday I will have the opportunity, at the Canadian Club, to talk about what our government plans on doing.

In the previous Liberal administration, they separated gender-based violence from human trafficking, from violence against women. Under our new government, we’ve been able to repatriate those three major pillars so that we can have a comprehensive approach to protect the most vulnerable women in this province.

I can tell you, as an advocate for those women, around the cabinet table, they will never have to worry about not being listened to or not being heard, because I will stand here and I—

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members take their seats.

Supplementary?

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde: I certainly appreciate the minister’s commitment to talk in this House and get some rounds of applause from her colleagues.

I have to say, congratulations for applauding.

The problem is further than this.

I had the great pleasure of standing with members of this Legislature on our special committee on sexual violence and harassment. We toured the province. We heard very specifically of the needs. And if I recall, two of your members were on this committee and they actually advocated for an increase in funding very significantly.

Again, I hear what the minister is saying. With all due respect, speaking here in this House doesn’t provide the funding that is so much needed in the communities and those organizations.

So again, I ask: Why, now that you’re in government, are the same people who attended those meetings not fighting to ensure that those survivors are not being neglected?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: I had the great opportunity, since being appointed to this ministry, to travel across the province and visit shelters and speak with experts in the field, and I’m going to continue to do that.

It’s a bit rich for the former Liberal government cabinet minister to be talking about funding when they blew the budget and they compromised the very core and valued public services that the most vulnerable people who rely on my ministry need.

I’ll tell you something: I am going to continue to fund this ministry, and I’ll have more to say in the weeks ahead. Right now, my ministry spends $160 million on emergency centres, 24-hour crisis lines, counselling, safety planning, transitional housing, referral services and court-based victim witness assistance.

I’m excited that later today I’ll be meeting with the Attorney General, the Minister of Labour and the minister of corrections so we can start charting a path forward—unlike they did for 15 years.

Taxation

Mr. Deepak Anand: My question is also for the Minister of the Environment, on affordability.

Minister, as the weather across the province changes, I’m reminded of many conversations I had during my campaign. Constituents of my riding of Mississauga–Malton told me how they dreaded this time of year. As the temperature continues to dip down, the costs associated with living go up. People would tell me of exceptional lengths they would go to just to avoid turning on the thermostat in their homes. As the weather gets colder, a quick 15-minute walk to the grocery store is no longer a viable option at minus 30 degrees. Affordability of gas for the car and heat for the home is central to our quality of life. Multiple times we heard about choosing between eating and heating.

Speaker, we made a commitment to make life more affordable. Can the minister provide an update on the progress?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Mr. Speaker, through you to the member from Mississauga–Malton: Thank you for the question. He’s quite right: Premier Ford and this government made a commitment to focus on affordability. We made a focus to make sure that we put money back in people’s pockets.

As the Premier said, help is on the way. That help is almost here. The consultation on Bill 4 has concluded. We are now in the process of wrapping up the passage of that bill. Directly tied to the decisions made in that bill, the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, we’ve already seen a 4.6-cent reduction in the price of gasoline and a 5.7-cent reduction in diesel.

We will continue to strive around affordability. We will continue to support families. We will continue to ensure that we meet our promises.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Mr. Deepak Anand: Thank you, Minister, for your response. Back to the minister: It is vital for the people of Ontario that the government must fight for them, and we must continue to fight to make life more affordable. While we recognize these significant environmental changes we must face, these can be resolved without costly taxes—taxes that make life unaffordable for the people of Ontario.

The fact is that the Liberal government’s cap-and-trade did little for the environment and was little more than a revenue tool—a revenue tool that the members of the NDP want to exploit. We heard that in the past as well; the member for Ottawa Centre has called for a $150-per-tonne carbon tax.

Can the Minister of the Environment explain to this House how this tax would hurt middle-class families and how much it would cost the people of Ontario?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Mr. Speaker, through you to the member: The member is quite correct. The NDP have called for the highest carbon tax in the world. That would mean a 35-cents-a-litre increase on gasoline. That kind of punishing carbon tax on Ontario families would cost them $216 a month. For the 73% of Ontario families who use natural gas, that would be $2,500 a year. What does the NDP have against Ontario families?

Mr. Speaker, we will bring forward a climate plan that does not punish Ontario families. It will make sure that we balance the economy and the environment. We will make sure that not only the cap-and-trade program but the Liberal carbon tax is not imposed, to protect Ontario families and protect our environment.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

M. Guy Bourgouin: Le premier ministre a démontré que c’est la province qui gère et qu’il réagit rapidement lorsqu’il veut des changements aux élections municipales.

Aujourd’hui, des millions d’Ontariens and Ontariennes se rendent aux pôles pour exercer leur droit de vote dans les élections municipales, mais 612 000 Franco-Ontariens partout en province n’auront pas l’opportunité de voter dans leur langue natale, qui est une langue officielle au Canada.

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Je demanderais au député d’en face de poser sa question au gouvernement précédent, qui a eu 15 ans pour ne pas répondre à ce problème important pour les Franco-Ontariens.

Notre gouvernement se penche directement sur les enjeux en parlant directement aux Franco-Ontariens. On travaille directement avec eux pour essayer de répondre directement aux enjeux d’importance pour les Franco-Ontariens, y compris le droit de vote.

Government services

Mrs. Gila Martow: My question is to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

As I’m sure the minister is aware, starting today, members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are taking

part in rotating strikes across the country. My constituents are concerned with what this will mean for the services that they receive from our government. This job action could cause significant inconveniences for the people of Ontario who rely on Canada Post for the timely delivery of important documents like birth, marriage and death certificates.

Can the minister update the Legislature on how the Canada Post rotating strikes will impact government services in Ontario and what our government is doing about it?

Hon. Todd Smith: Thanks for the excellent question this morning from my colleague from Thornhill. I know Ontarians are wondering what will happen to important documents that they’re expecting to receive in the mail.

With the situation limited right now to rotating strikes, ServiceOntario will continue to use Canada Post to deliver all documents, including birth, marriage and death certificates, drivers’ licences and health cards. Unfortunately, though, due to the federal government’s inability to reach a deal with postal workers, Ontarians may experience delays in delivery times and service guarantees may not be met. We give full credit to the team at ServiceOntario and the Vital Certificates staff up in Thunder Bay, whom I had an opportunity to meet last week. Those who are renewing documents during this time should keep their receipt as temporary proof of renewal.

I can tell you that at the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, we’re keeping a very close eye on these rotating strikes and ensuring we’re dealing with them as efficiently as we possibly can.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Mrs. Gila Martow: I want to thank the minister for his assurances and for the plan his ministry has developed. The constituents in my riding who rely on ServiceOntario to receive critical government services and vital documents will be pleased to see that our government is monitoring the impact the rolling strikes will have on the services they receive.

Mr. Speaker, labour disputes change on a daily basis, depending on how well negotiations are going. Could the minister update the Legislature on the contingency plan our government has in place to ensure continued services in the event the Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ rolling strikes become a nationwide strike or if Canada Post undertakes a lockout?

Hon. Todd Smith: Thanks again to the member from Thornhill. We hope things don’t escalate and cause a strike that would halt mail delivery right across Canada, but our government is prepared for any outcome of these negotiations. The ministry has developed a full contingency plan to protect delivery of vital documents to Ontarians in the event of a Canada Post work stoppage that would affect the entire country. We will look to alternative delivery processes for these vital events documents if necessary.

Those who renew documents during this time should keep their receipt as temporary proof of renewal, and we’re continuing to encourage those who receive payments in the mail from the Ontario government to sign up for direct deposit as well. For more information, Ontarians can go to the website ontario.ca/mail.

Speaker, we are ready. We are prepared. We’ll ensure Ontarians continue to receive the services. As the Boy Scouts say, “Be prepared.” We at MGCS are prepared today.

Public consultation

Ms. Marit Stiles: My question is for the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, after weeks and weeks of delays, the government’s so-called education consultations are already off to a rocky start. On Thursday, people in northwestern Ontario were given less than 24 hours’ notice of their dedicated telephone town hall. And if they somehow found out that the sign-up link was active, they had just five hours to register to participate before the cut-off deadline. A tweet just doesn’t cut it.

Mr. Speaker, does the minister think the results of this consultation will be meaningful if people aren’t given a fair chance to participate, or is that the point?

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: Speaker, I have to say: Another week, a new day and another opportunity for me to tell the member opposite that she is absolutely wrong in her assertations. Do you know what? What we are doing across this province is kick-starting yet another phase of opportunity for people to contribute into a consultation process that we feel is comprehensive and will shape the direction of our education in the future.

I had the opportunity to sit in on that call, and I have to tell you, Speaker, that I am really enthused by the thoughtful ideas that were coming forward. People were endorsing the need for financial literacy. People were sharing very thoughtful, proactive ideas on the use of cellphones in the classroom.

Do you know what is interesting? Speaker, you’ll smile when you hear this: People were actually talking about the need to understand what’s driving GDP, and they would also like to see more food literacy in the class.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Mr. Speaker, that is just total fiction. What they are concerned about is the rollback of sex education to the last century, the stopping of the Indigenous curriculum writing, and the cancellation of this year’s grants to parent councils that would allow parents to engage other parents in the education of their children.

It’s about respect, Mr. Speaker. The scope of these consultations has only grown while the means of participating seems to be shrinking. For those very, very few who did manage to get on the northwest regional town hall, less than 15 minutes were dedicated to input on the health and physical education curriculum, which is the supposed reason for the entire consultation taking place.

Mr. Speaker, how can Ontarians trust the outcome of these consultations if the process is already showing such serious flaws?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members, please take your seats.

Minister?

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: Speaker, I have to stand up and share with you that the member opposite, the member from Davenport, is working so hard to create a narrative that is not sticking.

We have three phases of our consultation. Our first phase that we introduced far surpassed the measly 1,638 people that the former Liberal government reached out to, and now we’ve just kicked off our telephone town halls, and we’ve been really pleased with the results of that town hall. In conjunction with that, we have an online survey. I will tell you this: People from one end of the province to the other will have an opportunity to participate in that as well.

We’re doing all of this because—do you know what? Under the last government, this province got on a very precarious road to absolute bankruptcy. We’re respecting the taxpayers’ dollars and doing so in an efficient way—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Next question.

Human trafficking

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: My question is for the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. This weekend, I hosted a round table on human trafficking with my colleague the MPP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte. We were appalled to learn that Ontario is plagued by different types of human trafficking, but most notably, sex trafficking of young and vulnerable women. These are violations of an individual’s human rights. It represents modern-day slavery, forcing individuals to act against their will. Traffickers control these women in many ways, including psychological manipulation, addiction, emotional abuse and social isolation.

Can the minister tell the House, how is it acceptable that these women and girls are falling victim to sex traffickers?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: I’d like to thank the honourable member for her excellent question and for drawing this important issue onto the floor of this Legislature. I congratulate her and my colleague from Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte for the round table that they had this weekend on what I call Ontario’s dirty little secret.

I’d be remiss, however, if I did not applaud the Minister of Labour for being the number one champion in this Legislature over many years and for her dedication to ending human trafficking with the Saving the Girl Next Door Act. I’m really proud of the work that she has done, because it is true, Speaker, that 65% of human trafficking in Canada comes from the province of Ontario.

Let me be perfectly clear: These young women are conditioned, they are coerced, they are raped, they are addicted and they are dehumanized. I would say, if we can’t make sure that they’re equal, are any of us equal? This is an issue that affects a lot of young women under the age of 18. In fact, 70% of sex trafficking victims are under the age of 25.

We have more to do, and I’m looking forward to talking more about it in the supplemental. I’m also looking forward to speaking to the Canadian Club this Thursday.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: Thank you, Minister, for your response. I’m proud to be part of a government that’s taking so much action on this issue.

After the round table I held with my colleague this weekend, I did a bit more research, and I learned that, in Ontario, roughly two thirds of the police reports every year are due to human trafficking. According to police-reported data and Statistics Canada, approximately 70% of sex trafficking victims are predominantly women under the age of 25, and 26% are under the age of 18, as the minister has stated. Additionally, data shows that the majority of persons accused of human trafficking are often young males. Trends indicate that this is a growing problem across our province and certainly in my riding.

Can the minister tell us how the government is combatting sex trafficking?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: I’ve inherited five previous ministries, and I can tell you my number one priority is to continue the strong work of the Minister of Labour in this field. I can tell you that this is not just a provincial issue; it is a community issue, it’s a neighbourhood issue and it’s a national issue.

Our response to sex trafficking previously was based on four pillars: prevention and community supports, Indigenous-led approaches, justice supports and provincial coordination, and leadership—I’ve added a fifth pillar. This past weekend I had the opportunity to meet with all of the women’s issues ministers across the country and compelled them to action in creating a task force on human trafficking, which I will co-chair, working with every other province and the federal government as well as Indigenous leaders.

Together, we vowed to address this issue in all forms through a new initiative to combat sex trafficking. I’m honoured to be the co-chair for that, but I also wanted to point out that our entire government is taking this seriously. That’s why later today, I’ll meet with the Minister of Labour, the Attorney General and the ministry of corrections so that we can have an integrated approach to save the girl next door.

Automobile insurance

Ms. Doly Begum: My question is to the Minister of Finance. Auto insurance premiums should be based on your car and how you drive, not where you live. However, when comparing the same driver with the same car in parts of Scarborough and elsewhere in the province, residents of my community are paying as much as $1,000 more for auto insurance. This is not fair, and this must change.

Can the minister explain why drivers in my community are being penalized for living in Scarborough?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Thank you very much for the question. It’s clear that the Liberal-NDP system of failed auto insurance is absolutely broken. Our government is now looking at the regulatory environment surrounding auto insurance in Ontario, with the potential of allowing more competition in the marketplace.

The Premier made it very, very clear: Our government is committed to ensuring fairness in rate setting, ending discriminatory practices and working towards a system that puts the drivers first.

Speaker, I’ll speak more in the supplementary, where I’ll have an opportunity to congratulate our PC member from Milton for his great work on this file.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Doly Begum: Thank you, Speaker—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Start the clock. Supplementary.

Ms. Doly Begum: After 15 years of Liberal failure, we have a government now that can actually do something better, but they’re taking it to worse.

Rising daily expenses, from auto insurance to housing, are a growing burden for families across Ontario. Ending postal code discrimination in auto insurance rates is one realistic step the government can take to make life more affordable for all our families. Good drivers in Scarborough should not be paying more than good drivers elsewhere in the GTA.

But unfortunately, this government has decided to put forward a bill with no teeth, claiming that it will end this unfair practice. There is nothing about that.

Mr. Speaker, why is this government proposing a bill with no teeth when they have another option: to support our bill that will, once and for all, end postal code discrimination in auto insurance?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members please take your seats.

Minister?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Speaker, I do want to begin by thanking my parliamentary assistant, the member from Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte, for taking carriage of the insurance file. Thank you very much.

We congratulate also, as I said earlier, our PC member from Milton for his important work on this file. His proposed insurance initiative is a great way to combat rate discrimination in the auto insurance system.

Now that the member’s legislation is tabled, we look forward to working with him and the industry stakeholders to ensure our auto system meets the needs of Ontario’s 10 million drivers.

Post-secondary education and skills training

Mr. Rick Nicholls: My question is to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Speaker, we promised the people of Ontario that our government would create good jobs and make Ontario open for business. I know from speaking with businesses and students in my riding that 15 years of Liberal mismanagement have left them behind. A key part of delivering on our promise is ensuring that students have the skills they need to fill the jobs of tomorrow.

This past Friday I was pleased to represent you, Minister, at the announcement at the opening of the National Powerline Training Centre and other infrastructure upgrades at St. Clair College, Thames campus, in my hometown of Chatham. It was an exciting development for St. Clair College as it continues to grow in providing training to students in southwestern Ontario.

Can the minister tell us about the government’s plans to help Ontarians find good-quality jobs and get the skills they need?

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you to the MPP from Chatham-Kent–Leamington for the question and for the hard work advocating for constituents.

I’m proud that the member from Chatham-Kent–Leamington was able to represent the government in Chatham and congratulate President Patti France and the team at St. Clair on this exciting development.

Speaker, I want all Ontarians to reach their full potential. My focus as minister is to ensure that our young people have the skills they need to fill the needed jobs and build a career for themselves in their community.

As the member mentions, St. Clair College has opened its new 8,000-square-foot training centre for powerline technicians at its Chatham campus. This is in addition to infrastructure upgrades at St. Clair’s Windsor campus.

Our government has promised the people of Ontario to create good jobs and make Ontario open for business, and that’s exactly what we are doing.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Rick Nicholls: Thank you, Minister, for your hard work for the young people of Ontario and getting this province back on track.

Speaker, the people of Chatham are excited to have a new facility to help ensure that young people in Ontario can gain the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. At the same time, Ontarians know that as we invest in our young people’s education, there is a pressing need to reduce the massive burden of provincial debt and the recent $15-billion deficit the former Liberal government hid.

Unsustainable debt loads risk the future of vital public services and threaten the ability of our government to make investments in infrastructure like the one announced at St. Clair College.

Can the minister tell us more about the investment at St. Clair and the importance of returning Ontario to secure financial footing?

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Our government recognizes the crucial role that colleges will play to ensure that Ontarians have the skills they need. We know from talking with employers that there is a skills gap which is dragging down our economy. The new facility will help bring St. Clair College’s powerline training program to the national level.

Unlike the previous Liberal government, we know that we have a responsibility to our young people to invest in their education and not to leave them with an unsustainable debt load for their children and grandchildren.

I am looking forward to working with St. Clair College and all of Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges to ensure we can fill the skills gap, create good jobs and make Ontario open for business.

Northern transportation

Mr. John Vanthof: My question is to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines.

Winter is coming. We’ve got one road, Highway 11, which will inevitably be closed numerous times and northerners will be cut off once again. We used to have an option. It was called the Northlander passenger train. In fact, I think we all agree that it was a mistake, shutting that service down. In fact, both the NDP and the Conservatives promised to bring that service back, or bring passenger rail service back, in the last election campaign. In fact, as we speak, there are community groups mobilizing to help that happen.

My question is to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines: When is the Ford government going to bring back passenger rail service to northeastern Ontario?

Hon. Greg Rickford: While this member has a track record of sitting on his hands for these important issues, we’re moving forward with a reliable, effective, cost-efficient northern transportation strategy.

There are people across the vast region of northern Ontario—most of the size of Europe—who need to be able to rely on bus services with washrooms in them to get to small towns and cities, to and from medical appointments; safe highways to transfer people and products; and railroads in different parts of the region that will, again, safely transport people and their products. We’re working on a strategy that will be effective for all of northern Ontario and I look forward to that member supporting that kind of plan.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. John Vanthof: Once again to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines: I do seem to recall that during the election campaign, a promise was made to bring passenger rail service back to northeastern Ontario. It was made by the NDP and it was made by the Conservatives—including, I believe, the Premier—to bring passenger rail back. We’re great looking at the whole system, but a specific commitment was made. Specific people are being cut off.

I also distinctly remember you guys have a slogan. You can help me with it: “Promise made”—but in the case of northerners, it’s more like “promise maybe.”

Once again, Minister, will you or will you not work with the NDP, work with northerners, to bring back passenger rail service to northeastern Ontario?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members, please take your seats.

Minister?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I guess he’ll huff and he’ll puff, Mr. Speaker.

Here’s the promise that we made: It was to respect taxpayers’ dollars. Because underpinning every question in this place is the NDP’s complete disrespect for the structural deficits and debt that this province has. It’s like they’re normalizing debt. Wait a second, colleagues: This is the normalizing debt party. I’m there; I’ve landed, Mr. Speaker. Through you to my colleague: Should my eternal quest to understand what the NDP stand for stop here with this discovery?

Interjection: No.

Hon. Greg Rickford: I’ll continue the fight then, Mr. Speaker.

But there isn’t a family or a small business in this province that would operate their financial affairs like they would propose or how the independent people sitting down the way have run this province.

Correction of record

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Deputy Premier on a point of order.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I would just like to correct my record, please. In my answer to the question concerning consumption and treatment services, I indicated that the total cost was $331.3 million; in fact, it’s $31.3 million.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

Deferred Votes

Time allocation

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We have a deferred vote. It’s a motion for allocation of time on government order number 4 regarding amendments to the standing orders.

Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1141 to 1146.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members please take their seats.

On October 18, 2018, Mr. Bethlenfalvy moved government notice of motion number 12.

All those in favour of Mr. Bethlenfalvy’s motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Anand, Deepak

Baber, Roman

Babikian, Aris

Bailey, Robert

Barrett, Toby

Bethlenfalvy, Peter

Bouma, Will

Calandra, Paul

Cho, Raymond Sung Joon

Cho, Stan

Coe, Lorne

Crawford, Stephen

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Downey, Doug

Dunlop, Jill

Elliott, Christine

Fedeli, Victor

Fullerton, Merrilee

Gill, Parm

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Mike

Hogarth, Christine

Jones, Sylvia

Kanapathi, Logan

Karahalios, Belinda

Ke, Vincent

Khanjin, Andrea

Kramp, Daryl

Kusendova, Natalia

Lecce, Stephen

MacLeod, Lisa

Martin, Robin

Martow, Gila

McDonell, Jim

McKenna, Jane

McNaughton, Monte

Miller, Norman

Mitas, Christina Maria

Mulroney, Caroline

Nicholls, Rick

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pang, Billy

Park, Lindsey

Parsa, Michael

Pettapiece, Randy

Phillips, Rod

Piccini, David

Rasheed, Kaleed

Rickford, Greg

Romano, Ross

Sabawy, Sheref

Sandhu, Amarjot

Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh

Scott, Laurie

Simard, Amanda

Skelly, Donna

Smith, Dave

Smith, Todd

Surma, Kinga

Tangri, Nina

Thanigasalam, Vijay

Thompson, Lisa M.

Tibollo, Michael A.

Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.

Wai, Daisy

Walker, Bill

Wilson, Jim

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): All those opposed to the motion will please rise one at a time and be counted by the Clerk.

Nays

Arthur, Ian

Begum, Doly

Bell, Jessica

Berns-McGown, Rima

Bisson, Gilles

Bourgouin, Guy

Des Rosiers, Nathalie

Fife, Catherine

Fraser, John

French, Jennifer K.

Gates, Wayne

Gélinas, France

Glover, Chris

Gretzky, Lisa

Hassan, Faisal

Hatfield, Percy

Horwath, Andrea

Hunter, Mitzie

Karpoche, Bhutila

Kernaghan, Terence

Lalonde, Marie-France

Mamakwa, Sol

Mantha, Michael

Morrison, Suze

Natyshak, Taras

Schreiner, Mike

Shaw, Sandy

Singh, Sara

Stiles, Marit

Tabuns, Peter

Vanthof, John

West, Jamie

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yarde, Kevin

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 69; the nays are 34.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I declare the motion carried.

Motion agreed to.

Member’s birthday

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound on a point of order.

Mr. Bill Walker: I’d like to just rise and offer congratulations on behalf of the House to the member from Burlington, Mrs. McKenna, on her birthday today. Happy birthday, Jane.

Member’s engagement

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Education on a point of order.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: I’d like to stand in this House and share sincere congratulations to my PA, Sam Oosterhoff, for popping the question. And she said yes.

Member’s birthday

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Point of order, the member for Waterloo.

Ms. Catherine Fife: We, too, have someone who is celebrating a special birthday today: Ms. Sandy Shaw, from Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): This House stands in recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1151 to 1300.

Members’ Statements

Mental health

Ms. Catherine Fife: This weekend, I participated in the Bridges to Hope project, organized by two Waterloo-Oxford students, Olivia Miller and Gretta Dotzert. These young women are two difference-makers. They reached out, spoke up and created a strong sense of community around mental health.

This project was inspired by a teen in the UK who attached messages to a frequently travelled bridge and it ended up preventing six suicides. These uplifting messages on bridges bring hope and awareness about mental health and now cover three Waterloo region bridges. Our students are leading the way. The research shows that peer-to-peer support can have a profoundly positive effect for well-being. Student voices matter.

We were joined by Waterloo Region District Board student trustees Oscar Judelson-Kelly and Ben Wahl, who spoke about ensuring that our schools are safe, inclusive and supportive places. Christine Strong, a young person who has lived experience with mental health, shared that her healing has been about taking that first step and not knowing how many steps there are.

We owe it to our young people to be supporting their efforts and to show that we hear them through providing resources and support. These students had an idea, and they ran with it. We have the potential to share hope at a much broader level. Certainly, an in-year cut of $330 million by this government will not address the crisis in mental health and the wait times for counselling. When people have the courage to speak up and ask for help, help needs to be available in real time.

I urge the Ford government to follow the lead of these Waterloo region students. They have spoken truth to power. Will this government listen?

Gaétan Gervais

M lle Amanda Simard: J’aimerais aujourd’hui souligner la vie d’un grand Ontarien, une grande figure de la communauté francophone : Gaétan Gervais.

Né en 1944 d’une famille ouvrière, il a fait ses études au Collège du Sacré-Coeur à l’Université Laurentienne ainsi qu’à l’Université d’Ottawa. Il était également professeur d’histoire à l’Université Laurentienne en plus d’être auteur de plusieurs ouvrages, tout en étant un grand défenseur des droits des francophones de l’Ontario.

Au nom de tous mes collègues en cette Chambre, j’aimerais transmettre mes plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux proches de Gaétan Gervais et le remercier pour tout son travail pour les francophones de notre province.

World Polio Day

Ms. Jennifer K. French: October 24 is World Polio Day. I want to highlight the vital work of Rotarians across our communities as they work to eradicate polio from the face of the earth. Thanks in large part to Rotary International and to the 1.2 million Rotary members worldwide, including the 10 Durham region Rotary clubs and our two in Oshawa, polio will soon be just a memory.

Polio is a crippling childhood disease that is terribly infectious and leads to paralysis and sometimes death. During the first half of the 20th century, polio crippled over half a million people every year. There is no cure, but there is a preventative vaccine. For as little as 60 cents’ worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this disease for life.

In 1985, Rotary International and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and the incidence of polio has plummeted from about 350,000 children paralyzed every year to fewer than 20 confirmed cases this year.

On World Polio Day this year, something special is happening in Oshawa. In our new global classroom at Durham College, there’s a global livestream being hosted by the Oshawa Rotary Club and the Oshawa-Parkwood Rotary Club. The World Polio Day livestream will broadcast through a network of colleges worldwide and to Rotarians all around the world, including to special guests in Pakistan, where it will be 3:30 in the morning.

The world is 99.9% polio-free, but the fight to end polio is not over. Rotarians around the world will not stop fundraising, fighting and advocating until our world is polio-free. For this important work and all of the caring and community work that Rotarians do across Oshawa, Durham region and the world, we say thank you.

Leonard “Red” Kelly

Ms. Jill Dunlop: Earlier this month, Detroit Red Wings president and CEO Christopher Ilitch announced that they would be honouring Leonard “Red” Kelly by retiring his number 4 jersey.

Kelly, born in Simcoe, Ontario, played 13 seasons with the Red Wings and eight seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969 and in 2001 he was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.

Mr. Kelly was a top defenceman. He played on eight Stanley Cup teams, won three Lady Byng trophies and one Norris trophy and, in 2017, he was named one of the 100 greatest NHL players in history.

Not only was Red an incredible hockey player and coach, but he also had a great sense of civic duty, serving as a federal member of Parliament for three years, from 1962 to 1965. His core values, such as hard work, determination, ambition and passion, inspired communities throughout North America. Red was, and continues to be, an inspiration for so many, so much so that two constituents from my riding of Simcoe North spent two years telling Red’s story. David Dupuis and Waxy Gregoire are two writers from Penetanguishene who co-authored a book entitled The Red Kelly Story.

We were all thrilled when the biography won the Ontario Speaker’s Book Award in 2016. Both men were proud they were able to have a

part in recounting Red’s life, one that was lived well, on and off the ice.

Red even coached our own member from Haldimand–Norfolk, MPP Barrett.

I’m looking forward to Mr. Kelly’s jersey retirement and special celebration on February 1, 2019, and I hope more people continue to learn about his great legacy.

Mental health

Mr. Wayne Gates: I’m rising to speak on an issue that’s incredibly important to me: proper access to mental health services in Niagara.

Over the past few weeks, our community has been shaken to its very core following the heart-wrenching loss of two members of our community—members of our community who have struggled and felt they had no other choice but to end their lives.

Over the last few weeks, our community has come together, like it always does in times of tragedy, to raise our collective voice and say to our fellow citizens, “We love you”; to reach out to those who are battling mental health issues and tell them we love them, we care for them and we’re there for them.

But we need help, Mr. Speaker. We need to ensure that residents have access to mental health supports any time they need them and that proper funding is in place to ensure these programs are available. Outside of political parties, we must do this together as elected representatives.

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to introduce legislation which will call for support of mental health services in Niagara. I hope we can come together, regardless of political party, to ensure that these supports are increased. I hope we can do this so we never need to have another memorial for a wonderful resident taken from us far too soon.

I hope we can collectively say that we care and that we take care to do better.

Education funding

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: I want to take an opportunity to talk about the importance of parent involvement in children’s education. I think that anyone who is a parent or who has been involved in education knows that that relationship can be very important and that there are many, many ways to be involved in a child’s education. The reality is, Mr. Speaker, that sometimes parents and schools need some support to understand exactly how to do that and to develop skills and being involved. That’s exactly why Parents Reaching Out Grants were established.

Since 2006, there have been 22,000 Parents Reaching Out Grants that have been allocated around the province. When you think there are 5,000 publicly funded schools in Ontario, that suggests that the vast majority of young people in this province and their families have been affected and helped by a Parents Reaching Out Grant. Over 900 regional and provincial Parents Reaching Out Grants have also been granted.

Let me give you some examples. Bluewater District School Board, Huron Heights Public School: $975 for Helping Parents Understand Mental Health. Conseil scolaire Viamonde: Educated Parents = Involved Parents, $1,000. A regional grant went to Halton District School Board’s parent involvement committee: $12,500 for 21st Century Student Success: Creating a Culture of Equity, Inclusion and Well-Being.

These are important grants, Mr. Speaker. I recognize that they are on hold, but that suggests that they are at risk.

Likewise, we’re being told that the students’ SpeakUp project grants are on hold. Those grants help students to raise their voices. They’re very important. They should be continued.

Persons Day

Mrs. Belinda Karahalios: On October 18, we marked the anniversary of Persons Day in Canada. This day marks the historic decision in 1929 to include women in the legal definition of “person.” This decision gave women the right to be appointed to the Senate of Canada and paved the way for women’s increased participation in public and political life.

In 1927, five women, who have since become known as the Famous Five, launched a legal challenge that would later mark a turning point for women’s rights in Canada. These five women from Alberta were journalists, politicians and activists who asked the Supreme Court of Canada if the word “person” in

section 24 of the British North America Act included female persons. The Supreme Court later decided that the word “person” did not include women.

The Famous Five did not give up. They took their case to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of Great Britain in London, which was then Canada’s highest court of appeal. On October 18, 1929, Lord Sankey, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, announced that the word “person” should include females. “The obvious answer,” he said, “why should it not?”

On Persons Day we pay tribute to the Famous Five—Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards—for their persistence and their work to create a more equal and inclusive society.

The decision to include women as persons under the law was a milestone victory for women across Canada. Not only had the Famous Five won the right for women to serve in the Senate, but they paved the way for women to participate equally in all aspects of life in Canada.

We can all do our part to carry on the legacy of the Famous Five by encouraging women and girls to participate in political and public life and celebrating the achievements and contributions of women and girls at home and in our communities.

Highway safety

M me France Gélinas: I rise today to speak about the terrible driving conditions in the west end of my riding. In July of this year, my office started to receive complaints of dangerous driving conditions linked to the work being done on a four-kilometre stretch from Sleepy Hollow Road to Worthington Road on Highway 17: bad signage, no traffic management, reduced visibility due to uncontrolled dust, loose gravel flying everywhere. There were no signs advising drivers to slow down for the gravel section. Only after many complaints did the Ministry of Transportation finally get involved.

There were many damage claims. We brought these forward to the ministry, which responded in writing: “With respect to vehicle damage, Interpaving Ltd. is responsible for addressing any damage caused by their construction operations.

“In the event that Interpaving does not address your constituents’ concerns, claims to recover damage may be submitted to the ministry of government services”—and he gave us the address.

Over 25 people have contacted our office about damage to their vehicles, including Carole Clance, Jack Kosmerly, Donald Law, Marc Lelievre and Leila Zazulan. All that they are getting is the runaround, with Interpaving saying, “Go to the ministry,” and the ministry saying, “Go to Interpaving.” This is not right. The construction is still going on. It is still dangerous. This government needs to do better.

Made in York Region

Mr. Billy Pang: A couple of weeks ago, I visited the ventureLAB at IBM in Markham for their first annual Made in York Region event. This event showcased the creative and entrepreneurial spirit that businesses in the Markham region possess and their contributions to York region’s vibrant local economy.

Markham, in particular, hosts more than 1,500 of these high-tech and life science companies and continues to attract foreign direct investment from more than 210 foreign companies. The companies that I encountered operate in different areas, from health care technologies to legal consultation applications. However, they all shared one thing in common: They were started by individuals with a vision and a desire to improve the lives of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to supporting these small businesses, as we acknowledge that they are job creators in our increasingly technologized economy and, as they continue to grow, will help Ontario become an economic hub for business. We have done this by vowing to cut the small business tax rate and lower the hydro costs for these same small businesses. We promised that small businesses will be supported by this government.

ABB Burlington

Ms. Jane McKenna: Last week, I had the opportunity to tour and spend some time with the people who run ABB in Burlington. It was exhilarating to tour the facility and learn a tiny bit about the truly amazing and vital work that they do.

ABB is a Swedish-Swiss multinational headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. They operate mainly in robotics, power, heavy electrical equipment and automation technology. It is the fifth-largest Swish company by revenue.

This is the kind of company the world is talking about. ABB actually built a major portion of the power grid in Canada. As urban centres develop farther and farther away from power sources, we need to find new ways of efficiently transporting energy from where it is available to where it is needed.

ABB is a pioneer of high-voltage direct current transmission, enabling grids to transport greater levels of power over longer distances with minimal losses. ABB refers to this time in history as the fourth industrial revolution. As robotics and artificial intelligence applications continue to gather momentum, ABB is applying the pragmatic to the promise.

I am very impressed and immensely proud to have ABB operating in Burlington. I want to extend my gratitude to Ark Kalinowski, Stephanie Medeiros, Trevor Butcher, Ravinder Basanti-Johal, Shelley Babin, Kevin Deree and Carolina Gallo for taking the time out of their busy day to show me what they do and outline how it is done.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes our time for members’ statements.

Private members’ public business

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the member for Guelph on a point of order.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: Mr. Speaker, I believe we have agreement for me to seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding the order of precedence for private members’ public business.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Guelph is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to put forward a motion without notice regarding the order of precedence for private members’ public business. Agreed? Agreed.

The member for Guelph.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 98(c), a change be made to the order of precedence for private members’ public business such that Nathalie Des Rosiers assumes ballot item number 34 and Mike Schreiner assumes ballot item 51.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Schreiner has moved that, notwithstanding standing order 98(c), a change be made to the order of precedence for private members’ public business such that Nathalie Des Rosiers assumes ballot item number 34 and Mike Schreiner assumes ballot item 51.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Introduction of Bills

Terrorist Activities Sanctions Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 punissant de sanctions les activités terroristes

Mr. Dave Smith moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 46,

An Act to amend various Acts to impose sanctions for persons convicted of terrorist activities / Projet de loi 46, Loi modifiant diverses lois pour imposer des sanctions aux personnes déclarées coupables d’activités terroristes.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Would the member for Peterborough–Kawartha like to explain his bill?

Mr. Dave Smith: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The bill amends a number of acts to provide for sanctions for any person convicted of a terrorist offence under any of sections 83.18 to 83.221 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

The child of a parent who is convicted of a terrorist offence is considered in need of protection under

part V of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017.

As well, a person who is convicted of a terrorist offence is not eligible for any of the following:

—a licence under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997;

—health insurance benefits under the Health Insurance Act;

—a driver’s licence under the Highway Traffic Act;

—rent-geared-to-income assistance or special-needs housing under the Housing Services Act, 2011;

—grants, awards or loans under the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act;

—an income support or employment support under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997;

—assistance under the Ontario Works Act, 1997; and

—coverage under the insurance plan under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

Petitions

Employment standards

Mr. Faisal Hassan: I have a petition entitled “Don’t Take Away Our $15 Minimum Wage and Fairer Labour Laws.

“Whereas the vast majority of Ontarians support a $15 minimum wage and better laws to protect workers; and

“Whereas last year, in response to overwhelming popular demand by the people of Ontario, the provincial government brought in legislation and regulations that:

“Deliver 10 personal emergency leave days for all workers, the first two of which are paid;

“Make it illegal to pay part-time, temporary, casual or contract workers less than their full-time or directly hired co-workers, including equal public holiday pay and vacation pay;

“Raised the adult general minimum wage to $14 per hour and further raises it to a $15 minimum wage on January 1, 2019, with annual adjustments by Ontario’s consumer price index;

“Make it easier to join unions, especially for workers in the temporary help, home care, community services and building services sectors;

“Make client companies responsible for workplace health and safety for temporary agency employees;

“Provide strong enforcement through the hiring of an additional 175 employment standards officers;

“Will ensure workers have modest improvements in the scheduling of their hours, including:

“—three hours’ pay when workers are expected to be on call all day, but are not called into work;

“—three hours’ pay for any employee whose shift is cancelled with less than two days’ notice; and

“—the right to refuse shifts without penalty if the shift is scheduled with fewer than four days’ notice;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to honour these commitments, including the $15 minimum wage and fairer scheduling rules set to take effect on January 1, 2019. We further call on the assembly to take all necessary steps to enforce these laws and extend them to ensure no worker is left without protection.”

I support this petition, add my name and give it to page Armita.

Northern health services

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Vivian Tannock from Lively in my riding for mailing me these petitions. It reads as follows:

“Save the Breast Screening ... Service....

“Whereas Premier Doug Ford promised that there would not be cuts to nurses’ positions; and

“Whereas in Sudbury we have already lost 70 nurses, and Health Sciences North is closing part of the Breast Screening and Assessment Service; and

“Whereas cuts” to the breast cancer service “will result in longer wait times, which is very stressful for women diagnosed with breast cancer; and

“Whereas cuts to the Sudbury Breast Screening and Assessment Service will only take us backwards”;

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“Provide adequate funding to Health Sciences North to ensure northerners have equitable access to life-saving programs such as the Breast Screening and Assessment Service.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it, and ask page Honora to bring it to the Clerk.

Climate change

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: This is a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly.

“For a Meaningful Climate Action Plan.

“Whereas our planet is undergoing significant warming with adverse consequences for health, for agriculture, for infrastructure and for our children’s future;

“Whereas the costs of inaction are severe, such as extreme weather events causing flooding and drought;

“Whereas Canada has signed the Paris accord which commits us to acting to keep temperature rise under 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius;

“We, the undersigned”—and some of them are graduates from the sustainability master’s at University of Ottawa, so I’m happy to note them—“call upon the government of Ontario to develop GHG reduction targets based on science that will meet our Paris commitment, an action plan to meet those targets and annual reporting on progress on meeting the targets. We call on the government to commit to providing funding through carbon pricing mechanisms for actions that must be taken to meet these targets.”

I agree with this petition and sign my name and will give it to Olajiire.

Wearing of poppies

Mr. Michael Mantha: I want to thank the good members of Legion Branch 194 in Hornepayne for the following petition:

“I Wear My Poppy with Pride and Respect.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the poppy is a powerful symbol of remembrance worn by millions the world over with respect and gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect peace and freedom for all people;

“Whereas the poppy has been the principal emblem of the Royal Canadian Legion since its inception in 1925;

“Whereas the poppy is an enduring symbol of sacrifice that was initially inspired by the Canadian poet and soldier John McCrae while in the trenches in the Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium, during World War I;

“Whereas the use or reference to the universal poppy symbol for purposes other than remembrance and respect for fallen servicemen and -women and peacekeepers worldwide may be offensive and disrespectful in the minds of their family, friends and comrades;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to: educate and promote the poppy as a universal symbol of remembrance and sacrifice, and that its heritage and origin from Canadian roots be highlighted. With this positive focus and purpose in mind,

“We further petition LAO to demonstrate leadership in this endeavour by exemplifying respect and pride in the poppy symbol when referred to by members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and provincial political parties.”

I wholeheartedly agree with this petition and present it to page Rose, who will bring it down to the Clerks’ table.

Mental health services

Ms. Suze Morrison: I have a petition here entitled “Stop the Premier from Cutting Mental Health Care.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas” the Premier of Ontario “has announced a $335-million per year funding cut to mental health care and services;

“Whereas an estimated 12,000 children are waiting up to 18 months for mental health care, and there are 63% more children in the ER for mental health issues than there were in 2006;

“Whereas a cut to already threadbare mental health funding will mean longer waits for care and fewer services—which can result in mental health conditions being exacerbated, and more people living with mental illness spiralling into crisis;

“Whereas front-line care workers and first responders are doing the best they can, but coping with a shortage of resources;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to reverse” the Premier’s “$330-million per year funding cut to Ontario’s mental health services.”

I fully support this petition. I will be affixing my signature to it and providing it to page Armita to deliver to the table.

Injured workers

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: I have a petition here from the injured workers group in Thunder Bay. The petition is called “Workers’ Comp is a Right.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas about 200,000 to 300,000 people in Ontario are injured on the job every year;

“Whereas over a century ago, workers in Ontario who were injured on the job gave up the right to sue their employers, in exchange for a system that would provide them with just compensation;

“Whereas decades of cost-cutting have pushed injured workers into poverty and onto publicly funded social assistance programs, and have gradually curtailed the rights of injured workers;

“Whereas injured workers have the right to quality and timely medical care, compensation for lost wages, and protection from discrimination;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to change the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act to accomplish the following for injured workers in Ontario:

“Eliminate the practice of ‘deeming’ or ‘determining,’ which bases compensation on phantom jobs that injured workers do not actually have;

“Ensure that the WSIB prioritizes and respects the medical opinions of the health care providers who treat the injured worker directly;

“Prevent compensation from being reduced or denied based on ‘pre-existing conditions’ that never affected the worker’s ability to function prior to the work injury.”

I will sign this petition and give it to Marcel.

Poet laureate

Mr. Percy Hatfield: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas poets laureate have been officially recognized at all levels of Canadian government and in at least 15 countries around the world; and

“Whereas the establishment of our own poet laureate for the province of Ontario would promote literacy and celebrate Ontario culture and heritage, along with raising public awareness of poetry and of the spoken word; and

“Whereas Gord Downie was a poet, a singer and advocate for indigenous issues, and designating the poet laureate in his memory will serve to honour him and continue his legacy; and

“Whereas Bill 6,

An Act to establish the Poet Laureate of Ontario in memory of Gord Downie, will establish the Office of Poet Laureate for the province of Ontario as a non-partisan attempt to promote literacy, to focus attention on our iconic poets and to give new focus to the arts community in Ontario;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario....

“To support the establishment of the Office of Poet Laureate as an officer of the Ontario Legislature and that private member’s Bill 6,

An Act to establish the Poet Laureate of Ontario in memory of Gord Downie, receive swift passage through the legislative process.”

I fully agree. I will sign it and give it to Andre to bring up to the table.

Indigenous affairs

Mr. Michael Mantha: I have a petition from the good people of White River entitled “Stop the Cuts to Indigenous Reconciliation.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario is situated on the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples, many of whom have been on this land for at least 12,000 years;

“Whereas reconciliation must be at the centre of all government decision-making;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“—continue reconciliation work in Ontario by implementing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;

“—reinstate the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation;

“—work with First Nations leaders to sign co-operative government-to-government accords;

“—support TRC education and community development (e.g. TRC summer writing sessions);

“—support Indigenous communities across the province (e.g. cleaning up Grassy Narrows).”

I wholeheartedly agree with this petition and present it to page Marcel to bring down to the Clerks’ table.

Gasoline prices

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Joyce Guenette from Val Caron in my riding for sending me these petitions. It reads as follows:

“Whereas northern Ontario motorists continue to be subject to wild fluctuations in the price of gasoline; and

“Whereas the province could eliminate opportunistic price gouging and deliver fair, stable and predictable fuel prices; and

“Whereas five provinces and many US states already have some sort of gas price regulation; and

“Whereas jurisdictions with gas price regulation have seen an end to wild price fluctuations, a shrinking of price discrepancies between urban and rural communities and lower annualized gas prices;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“Mandate the Ontario Energy Board to monitor the price of gasoline across Ontario in order to reduce price volatility and unfair regional price differences while encouraging competition.”

I support this petition, will affix my name to it, and ask page Olajiire to bring it to the Clerk.

Services de santé dans le Nord

M. Michael Mantha: « Sauvez le Service pour le dépistage et le diagnostic du cancer du sein.

« À l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario :

« Attendu que le premier ministre, Doug Ford, a promis qu’il n’y aurait pas de pertes d’emplois d’infirmiers et d’infirmières; et

« Attendu qu’à Sudbury, nous avons déjà perdu 70 infirmiers et infirmières, et que Horizon Santé-Nord ferme une

partie du Service pour le dépistage du cancer du sein; et

« Attendu que les coupures au Service pour le dépistage et le diagnostic du cancer du sein de Sudbury entraîneront des délais plus longs, ce qui est très stressant pour les femmes atteintes du cancer du sein; et

« Considérant que les compressions au Service pour le dépistage et le diagnostic du cancer du sein de Sudbury est un pas en arrière;

« Nous, soussignés, demandons à l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario :

« D’accorder le financement à Horizon Santé-Nord afin d’assurer aux femmes du Nord un accès équitable à des programmes essentiels tels que le Service pour le dépistage et le diagnostic du cancer du sein. »

Je suis complètement d’accord avec cette pétition. Je la présente, avec ma signature, à la page Amber.

Correction of record

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): I recognize the member from Burlington on a point of order.

Ms. Jane McKenna: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think it sounded like I said the word “Swish.” I’d like to correct it that it is the word “Swiss.”

Orders of the Day

Standing orders

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 17, 2018, on the amendment to the motion regarding amendments to the standing orders.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I’m now required to put the question.

Mr. Piccini has moved an amendment to government notice of motion number 5 relating to changes to the standing orders, currently government order number 4. Is it the pleasure of the House that Mr. Piccini’s motion carry? That’s carried.

Mr. Smith, Bay of Quinte, has moved government notice of motion number 5 relating to changes to the standing orders, currently government order number 4.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion, as amended, carry?

All those in favour of the motion, as amended, please say “aye.”

All those opposed to the motion, as amended, will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This will be a 10-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1339 to 1349.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Members please take their seats.

Mr. Smith, Bay of Quinte, has moved government notice of motion number 5 relating to changes to the standing orders, currently government order number 4.

All those in favour of the motion, as amended, will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Anand, Deepak

Baber, Roman

Babikian, Aris

Bailey, Robert

Barrett, Toby

Bethlenfalvy, Peter

Bouma, Will

Calandra, Paul

Cho, Raymond Sung Joon

Cho, Stan

Coe, Lorne

Crawford, Stephen

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Downey, Doug

Dunlop, Jill

Elliott, Christine

Fedeli, Victor

Fullerton, Merrilee

Gill, Parm

Harris, Mike

Hogarth, Christine

Jones, Sylvia

Karahalios, Belinda

Ke, Vincent

Khanjin, Andrea

Kramp, Daryl

Kusendova, Natalia

MacLeod, Lisa

Martin, Robin

Martow, Gila

McDonell, Jim

McKenna, Jane

McNaughton, Monte

Miller, Norman

Mitas, Christina Maria

Nicholls, Rick

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pang, Billy

Park, Lindsey

Parsa, Michael

Pettapiece, Randy

Phillips, Rod

Piccini, David

Rasheed, Kaleed

Rickford, Greg

Romano, Ross

Sabawy, Sheref

Sandhu, Amarjot

Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh

Scott, Laurie

Simard, Amanda

Skelly, Donna

Smith, Dave

Smith, Todd

Surma, Kinga

Tangri, Nina

Thanigasalam, Vijay

Thompson, Lisa M.

Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.

Wai, Daisy

Walker, Bill

Wilson, Jim

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): All those opposed to the motion, as amended, will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Bell, Jessica

Bisson, Gilles

Bourgouin, Guy

Des Rosiers, Nathalie

Fife, Catherine

Fraser, John

French, Jennifer K.

Gates, Wayne

Gélinas, France

Glover, Chris

Hassan, Faisal

Hatfield, Percy

Kernaghan, Terence

Mamakwa, Sol

Mantha, Michael

Monteith-Farrell, Judith

Morrison, Suze

Schreiner, Mike

Shaw, Sandy

Singh, Sara

Stiles, Marit

Vanthof, John

West, Jamie

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yarde, Kevin

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 64; the nays are 25.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): I declare the motion carried.

Motion agreed to.

Green Energy Repeal Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 abrogeant la

Loi sur l’énergie verte

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 15, 2018, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 34,

An Act to repeal the Green Energy Act, 2009 and to amend the Electricity Act, 1998, the Environmental Protection Act, the Planning Act and various other statutes / Projet de loi 34, Loi abrogeant la Loi de 2009 sur l’énergie verte et modifiant la Loi de 1998 sur l’électricité, la

Loi sur la protection de l’environnement, la

Loi sur l’aménagement du territoire et diverses autres lois.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: I first seek unanimous consent to split my time with the member from Don Valley West.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): The member from Ottawa–Vanier is speaking unanimous consent to split her time. Agreed? Thank you.

Back to the member for Ottawa–Vanier.

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: C’est un grand plaisir pour moi de me lever pour discuter du projet de loi 34.

The future will be green, or there won’t be a future. This bill is entirely symbolic because it responds to the long-standing opposition of the Conservative Party to green energy.

I commend the government for having included many of the dispositions that—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Stop the clock.

I’m having a very difficult time, even with the earpiece, hearing the member for Ottawa–Vanier. Anybody who is not staying in the House and wishes to carry on a conversation: Please take it outside so that I can hear the member.

Back to the member for Ottawa–Vanier.

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: I wanted to say that I commend the government for including many provisions of the Green Energy Act in the Electricity Act, particularly the ones on conservation and energy efficiency.

I will make two points. The first one is: I am concerned about

section 4 of the bill. I would recommend that the government review that

section and reconsider it. Secondly, I want to speak to the need to continue to support a green sector.

Number one:

Section 4 of the bill treats renewable energy differently than other types of energy. It’s one thing not to want to give favoured treatment to renewable energy—and I think that was the point of the government—but it’s something else to create an added burden for people who want to invest in renewable energy.

Section 4 says that the Environmental Protection Act is amended by allowing the following clause: That it’s possible to prohibit “the issue ... of renewable energy approvals in prescribed circumstances, which may include circumstances in which the demand for the electricity that would be generated ... has not been demonstrated.”

So essentially, the point of this provision is to prevent some renewable energy projects from going on if the demand for them has not been established. In my view, this is unnecessary. If there’s no market for the energy that’s being produced, the producer will not be in this market. The danger with creating added steps for renewable energies is that it makes them less competitive, and it creates a disincentive for investors from investing in green energy projects.

Green energy has created many jobs in Ontario. Indeed—I think I have the numbers here—since 2009, 42,000 jobs have been created in the green energy sector, with over 30 solar and wind manufacturers right here in Ontario. So there’s no reason, really, why we want to prejudice that sector. I think it’s okay and I understand that the government wants us to be neutral toward that sector, and that’s what I’m recommending. Indeed, the long-term energy plans of the previous government mandated neutrality from now on—being agnostic as to which types of energy we were going to consume in order to ensure price competitiveness.

We know that with the rise in technology, many of the renewable energy projects may become very competitive on price. We should not deter ourselves or prevent ourselves from benefiting from this increase in competitiveness in the green sector. Indeed, I think many of the people who are commenting on the bill recognize that it’s one thing not to want to favour green energy, but it’s something else if you want to create an added burden. It’s not necessary to have these provisions, and I encourage the government to review its position on this.

The second thing that I want to reflect on is the importance of not undermining the green energy sector. The future of our competitiveness depends on having a strong green energy sector. Throughout the world, governments, industry and societies in general are moving toward wanting green products. There are some hiccups. There are some climate change deniers. There are some ultra-conservative governments that continue not to want to recognize the impacts of climate change on the environment—

Interjections.

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: I’m not talking about you; I’m talking about throughout the world.

Interjection.

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: I could, but that’s not my point. My point is, as I said, I want to make sure that our competitiveness continues to be ensured in Ontario. To be competitive in the future, you will have to have products that can compete under GHG emissions. We know that the trend will continue. We can predict that competition between products will be about the price, but also about the number of GHGs that are emitted during their production.

We need a technology that continues to be at the utmost leading edge in Ontario. And that’s where we were: We were the world leader in continuing to support green energy. We don’t want to lose that part. We don’t want to go too far in that context. We have created the expertise in green energy. Indeed, Toyota came to Ontario because there was the ability to create its electric car because we had the expertise on staff. We don’t want to lose that.

I think we need to continue to be neutral toward green energy and support the green sector generally in order to ensure that Ontario and Ontarians continue to be ready to compete in the future.

Merci, madame la Présidente. I pass the torch to my colleague.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): The member for Don Valley West.

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: Madam Speaker, I’m very happy to have a chance to speak to Bill 34 today.

It’s a reality that our climate is changing. Humanity is at risk. When I was on a trade mission in my previous incarnation to Vietnam, I was made aware of the fact that parts of that country and vulnerable islands around it are actually sinking, that there is such a desperate need to take action. Closer to home, we see heat, extreme fires and flooding, rising insurance costs, bizarre weather patterns.

And yet, part of the wave of right-wing populism that has overtaken the United States and other jurisdictions and, I would suggest, is taking hold to some extent here is a renewal of permission for climate change denial. That’s why this Conservative government cancelled cap-and-trade. That’s why they want to cancel the Green Energy Act. That’s why they’re jumping on the Saskatchewan bandwagon to fight the federal government’s climate action strategy. All of this may be good politics—

Interjections.

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: I hear the heckling from the other side, because they see it as good politics. But it is dangerous and destructive policy.

These actions threaten our children, our grandchildren and our economy, which I would think is something that the party in power today would care about. Both the Green Energy Act and cap-and-trade were part of a coherent strategy and part of Ontario doing its part and leading the way, to pick up on what my colleague from Ottawa–Vanier said, in terms of the development of new, green, clean technology.

It is impossible to explain to children what this government is doing. There is no rational way of saying that the health of the Earth is not important to the adults running the province. There’s no way to say that in a way that children can understand. But let’s put aside that emotional argument for a moment. Let’s just talk about the economic argument.

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario recently released her report, Climate Action in Ontario. I know that the bulk of the report was about the cancellation of cap-and-trade, but it also touched on the cancellation of projects that were facilitated by the Green Energy Act. I think it’s important that we understand, as I said before, that these initiatives were part of a whole strategy to allow Ontario to lead the way. She talks about the government’s unilateral cancellation of contracts harming business investment and investor confidence. We’re talking here about the reputation of a jurisdiction.

If a jurisdiction can’t be one that can be relied upon by business—business loves certainty, and if business can’t rely on a jurisdiction to stick to its word, then that’s a problem. What the commissioner said is, “Many businesses hurt by the government’s recent decisions had been confident in investing in Ontario due to its hard-earned reputation for having a stable and predictable regulatory and legal environment. As these businesses potentially face millions of dollars in uncompensated liabilities, they (and others) may invest elsewhere instead.

They can also be expected to spread the word about their adverse experiences in Ontario.” Madam Speaker, I think that is a very, very damaging and problematic direction for this government to take this province in.

When I travelled to Paris to the meeting on climate change, because the coal-fired plants had been shut down, because we were developing clean, green technology, Ontario was seen as a place that people could look to from around the world as a place of innovation and as a place where there was the possibility of experimentation and new technology being developed. That is being undermined by the current actions of this government.

The short-term notion that somehow this “good politics” can trump the long-term benefits of good policy that actually was going to allow us in this province to continue to develop new technology—the reason the member from Ottawa–Vanier talked about the neutrality on the electricity generation, Madam Speaker, is that there are new technologies that are being developed every day. We knew in our long-term energy plan, for example, that storage was going to play a very important role in the future. We need to make sure that we’ve put in place a framework that allows all the companies that are looking at us and that have looked at us as a jurisdiction of innovation continue to do that.

My fear is that this bill, combined with the other actions that this government is taking, is going to move us out of that role of leadership in the development of clean technology. I remember that I would sit at the Premiers’ table with former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall—who was also not interested in taking

part in the national move to fight climate change—and he would say, “Well, you know, Canada is a very small percentage of the problem. Canada can’t do this alone. We need to look to the larger jurisdictions like China, India and other developing countries.”

Well, I would say that now those countries are coming on board. At the same time, even at the time that the Premier of Saskatchewan was making his commentary, the reality is that what Canada can do—and particularly what Ontario can do—is lead the way in the development of technology.

When we look to businesses in this province, yes, they’re developing new technologies for Ontario, but they’re developing those technologies for other jurisdictions as well. That means that companies will come here, invest, and develop technologies that can be used all over the world.

We are already known for our clean water technology. That water technology was developed because of a concerted investment in that sector and the development of new technologies, unfortunately in the wake of a tragedy here in Ontario, the Walkerton tragedy. The reality is that those technologies have been developed. They can be used here, but they can be used elsewhere, and that’s exactly what the Green Energy Act was allowing us to do. That’s what cap-and-trade was allowing us to do: reinvest in companies that create jobs and develop technology that can be used all over the world.

I am very worried that the direction that we’re going—cancelling projects and cancelling legislation that actually was driving that innovation—is taking us in the wrong direction. I’m going to start to cough, so I’m going to stop. But this is dangerous legislation.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Just take your time. Madam Speaker, a point of order, so that we can allow the member to take a glass of water. I realize that that may not be a point of order, but I think sometimes we should just help each other out.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Thank you. We will stop the clock briefly.

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: My colleagues, Madam Speaker, are supplying me with Halls. They’re not the cherry ones.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Back to the member for Don Valley West.

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: Sorry. I apologize. What I really want to say is that we need to make sure that whatever we replace the plan that was in place with, that whatever we do in Ontario, we pay close attention to those issues that I’ve raised, that we understand that we have a role to play and that we have to take

part in a global move to fight climate change, and that we can’t abdicate our responsibility by saying that we’ve generally made a lot of progress.

I hear the Minister of the Environment saying that Ontario has come a long way. Ontario has come a long way because of intentional investments and policy that put in place a framework that allowed us to do that. We can’t now remove all of those supports and change those policies so that they’re unrecognizable and expect that we will continue to have that progress and that we will continue to meet those targets. The Green Energy Act was part of that strategy.

So whatever we do to move forward in this province, we need to make sure that we put in place policies that are actually going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that are actually going to fight climate change in the way that we have been over the last decade.

Likewise, we need to make sure that the gains that have been made in terms of economic progress because of the innovation in this province, because of the ability of our well-educated workforce, the investment that has come here because of the Green Energy Act and because of our reputation as a strong green jurisdiction—we need to make sure that that continues. My fear is that with these actions that are being taken by this government, that may not happen. Businesses, innovators and scientists around the world will look around Ontario and will say, “You know what?

We’re going to go somewhere else because this is a jurisdiction that can’t be relied upon to honour a contract. This is a jurisdiction that seems to abdicating its responsibility and turning away from the green initiatives that it had put in place over the last decade.”

So I would implore the government to look at those issues, because this is a government that has said that it’s very concerned about economic growth and that it’s interested in being open for business. The repeal of the Green Energy act flies in the face of that. The repeal of the Green Energy Act actually says, “We’re going to shut the door to innovation. We’re going to shut the door to businesses that previously might have looked at Ontario because of our strong regulatory regime and because of our strong support for these innovations.” They will look elsewhere. That is not good for Ontario in the short term; that is not good for Ontario in the long term.

It also means that the talented young people who are going through our post-secondary system and who have looked to jobs in this province in the green, clean tech sector are going to go somewhere else; they’re not going to stay here. We want them to stay here, and we need an environment and an economy that will encourage them.

I hope that the government will reconsider some parts of this legislation.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Questions and comments?

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: I’m pleased to add my voice to the debate today. There’s something that I need to focus on and that I can’t let slip by. The member from Don Valley West said that we need to leave the emotion out of this and focus on economics. Well, really and truly, that really stuck with me because the reason she’s encouraging people to leave the emotion out of it is that we know that the flawed green energy Liberal ideology has absolutely failed Ontarians.

I welcome the opportunity to focus on the economics of their failed policy because it has left Ontario in disarray. It has driven manufacturers out of this province. It has caused a lot of fiscal stress on companies who are still trying to operate. The global adjustment fees alone have just wreaked havoc on the manufacturers that have chosen to stay home in Ontario and try and weather the storm.

Well, as our Premier has said many, many times before, as of June 7, help has arrived. We actually get the economics of the failed Liberal ideology. We understand that in order to move forward we needed to return autonomy to our municipalities that should have had a voice as opposed to having it ripped away by the former Liberal administration. That was an absolute travesty.

Another thing that I want to share with you is that the member from Ottawa–Vanier said we need to be leading by example. Speaker, you’ve heard me speak about this in the House before: It was the Progressive Conservative government of Ontario in years past that led the way and started the closure. We take full credit for starting the closure of coal plants in Ontario under the very capable leadership of the then-Minister of Environment, Elizabeth Witmer, and the Minister of Health, Jim Wilson. I applaud them for leading the way in that regard.

One thing I will never applaud this Liberal government for is the FOI in telling their bureaucrats to stand down when it came to health issues.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Questions and comments?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Madam Speaker, to the Minister of Education: I think we both agree the government certainly could have done things differently. I’m not going to argue with you on that one.

The basic issue is, what do we do in regard to carbon emissions? There are only three levers that we have as government. You can regulate your way by decreasing what people can emit into the atmosphere. There’s a cost to doing that. We’ve done it before.

I live in northern Ontario. A place called Sudbury—that’s not where I live but it’s a place in northern Ontario. We made it so the emissions had to be reduced in Sudbury. When I was a boy growing up, they were using Sudbury as a test bed for the Apollo landings. The astronauts for Apollo 11, Apollo 12 and Apollo 13 all went up to Sudbury and they walked around Sudbury on the rocks out there because it was a place that looked the closest to the moon.

You can do a regulatory approach, you can do a carbon tax or you can do cap-and-trade. I think the value of cap-and-trade is that it moves it to the polluter having to pay. Then you take the money from those polluters and you use that money to reinvest in industry so other industries, including themselves, can use that money in order to reduce emissions into the atmosphere.

Here’s a bit of surprise that I think a lot of government members haven’t realized: China just today launched their carbon market. They’re going to be the largest carbon market under a cap-and-trade system in the world. This is China doing this. They are not exactly known as the beacons of environmental policy. Mind you, I’ve been to China; they’re spewing all kinds of stuff into the atmosphere. The current Premier promised two years ago that they were going to put in place a carbon market in regard to a cap-and-trade system, which is now just being launched today.

The only government that’s going backwards in the world is the Doug Ford government. When China is leading Ontario when it comes to climate change, I think we’re in trouble.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Questions and comments?

Hon. Greg Rickford: Madam Speaker, I was all fired up to respond with a few comments to the member from Don Valley West. I hope she’s okay. She had quite a coughing spell there—the same kind of coughing spell many people have every time they open their hydro bill.

Madam Speaker, with all due respect to the previous government, we are in a serious situation. We are paying among the highest rates for energy bills around the world. Let’s get that straight, Madam Speaker. When it comes to attracting business, it’s on our policies that new businesses and families are finally saying, “Okay, we have a chance here.”

To my friend from Timmins: Let’s be perfectly clear. He’s asking for a lower price of gas because, like his constituents out in northwestern Ontario, most of us drive big pickup trucks. We want a reduction.

Natural gas bills now: People carrying fuel are saying they appreciate very much that the carbon tax, through the cap-and-trade system, is now off their bills.

We still have some work to go. The supply chain, specifically with petroleum, is a tough act to nail down, Madam Speaker. But I would point out that what people are appreciating right now, what businesses have asked us for—and I have been out meeting with industry leaders across this province: steel, mining, forestry and manufacturers. Not one of them—not one, and we’re talking about hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of them—has come up to me with a deep appreciation of the energy policies of the previous government. That’s pretty profound.

I would have thought, in the normal course of doing one’s affairs as the Minister of Energy, that somebody would come up and say, “You know, there is something good about this.” They haven’t. They’re looking for relief.

It’s not that there is not a place for renewable energy in our energy priorities. It means that it went too far, Madam Speaker. People deserve lower rates, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Questions and comments? Questions and comments? The member for Windsor–Tecumseh.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Thank you, Speaker. I didn’t realize I was going to do two minutes.

Allow me to say to the young people in the gallery today: Welcome. You’re here listening to a debate on repealing the Green Energy Act. The Green Energy Act is something that will impact you as you grow older because it’s talking about the environment, and in your school classes you will learn about air pollution.

Mr. Rick Nicholls: Address the Speaker.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: I’m sorry. I am addressing the Speaker but making reference to the children in the audience. Thank you for that.

The Conservatives didn’t want me to talk to the children whose future is at stake when we talk about green energy in this province, Speaker. That says a lot about my good friends on the other side of the aisle.

The point of the debate this afternoon is, they want to stop green energy from going forward, green energy being windmills, green energy being solar farms, moving us away from the pollution that comes out of the exhaust pipes of vehicles, that comes off the exhaust pipes of natural gas plants. There’s all kinds of bad stuff going into the air, Speaker, which makes it hard for some people to breathe. The cleaner we can make the air, the cleaner