I've got to admit it's an interesting approach: What they really want to do is help the individuals involved, and that's their rationale for having them appear before the committee.

I'm not sure that they would see the opposition that way. But I think the point here is the one made by the auditor. He was very specific with respect to his findings. He said at least twice that party politics were not involved in this, that they were not at play in all this. I think we should respect that.

I think what Ontarians want us to do now is to move forward, do everything we can to ensure that we have in place at the earliest possible opportunity electronic health records for all of us. That will facilitate our health care, it will improve our health care, and it will help us better manage our costs when it comes to our health care.

AFFORDABLE Housing

I think it is newsworthy when the head of the NDP in Ontario abandons food banks and poverty groups who are in support of our package of tax reforms. This is what they said at the 25 in 5: Network for Poverty Reduction in response to our budget: "This budget has moved the bar forward on Housing, tax credits and child benefits in ways that will make a tangible difference in the lives of many Ontarians."

Interjection.

I always appreciate my friend's interesting perspective on these things, but let's listen to Pat Capponi, 25 in 5: Network for Poverty Reduction. This is her quote: "This budget has moved the bar forward on Housing, tax credits and child benefits in ways that will make a tangible difference in the lives of many Ontarians."

I know that my honourable colleague would like to say that somehow we are on one side or the other. The fact of the matter is, we're doing both. We are trying to ensure that we have a strong economy by making sure our businesses can compete. At the same time, we're looking after our families, particularly our most vulnerable.

I do recall the comments offered by Pat Capponi, who leads the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction. She said the following: "This budget has moved the bar forward on Housing, tax credits and child benefits in ways that will make a tangible difference in the lives of many Ontarians."

We've been particularly concerned about ensuring that our budget reflects the challenges faced by our low-income families. That's why we have a tax credit in place. It will be the largest of its kind in Canada. That's why we've enhanced the Ontario child benefit as well. That's why we've increased our property tax benefits for seniors and low-income families. I think that represents a comprehensive approach, a sensitive approach, to the challenges faced by our low-income families.

Let's keep in mind the context and the real successes that we have enjoyed, working hard together with Ontarians. I just don't share my honourable colleague's negative and pessimistic view of where we find ourselves and where we're going.

If you take a look at the budget, for example, we have found a way, working hard, as I say, together with Ontarians, to introduce measures that will both make us a more competitive and a more caring Ontario. While we've reduced business taxes and reduced taxes for 93% of Ontarians, we've also effectively doubled the Ontario child benefit.

We're putting new money into social Housing. We found more money for health care, more money for education and more money for colleges and universities, notwithstanding that we find ourselves at a time where our economy is contracting. We put forward a good, solid budget that is designed to meet the needs of the day and ensure that we can look forward to the future with a great deal of optimism.

Again, my colleague is just looking at one particular measure, and she has yet to factor into her thinking the fact that 93% of Ontarians will enjoy a tax cut. I don't think she has looked at the other dimensions of our budget; for example, dramatically increasing the Ontario child benefit for kids who are growing up in poverty, building more affordable Housing, investing in better-quality health care services for all our families, investing in better educational opportunities for all our children.

Here's something that came from Adam Spence who's with the Ontario Association of Food Banks: "I think this government took important steps in this budget. It's going to put money in people's pockets and a roof over their heads."

Again, we have tried to be thoughtful and balanced to build a more competitive and a more caring Ontario.

1050

PENSION PLANS

I just quoted Roger Martin, an expert who has been cited on several occasions by my honourable colleague, and I quoted from a number of other organizations that have an interest in strengthening the economy.

The fact of the matter is we're bringing a balanced approach to the people's future through our budget. We are reducing corporate income taxes and, at the same time we're increasing the Ontario child benefit. We're reducing the small business corporate tax rate, and at the same time we're increasing the minimum wage. We're eliminating the small business clawback, and at the same time we're reducing income taxes on the lowest-income earners to the lowest level in Canada. What's more, we continue to invest in affordable Housing, in health care, education, post-secondary education and research and innovation. It is a balanced approach that is designed, in the long term, to improve prosperity, create jobs and make of us a continuing, caring society.

Again, my colleague offers no suggestions with respect to where the money would come from to help folks who find themselves in difficult times in their retirement. I want to remind my honourable colleague that the economy, we project, will shrink by two and a half per cent this year. I'll remind him that we're running some considerable deficits, that we're investing thirty-two and a half billion dollars into infrastructure, and that we've found a way to increase funding levels for education, for health care, for post-secondary education and for things like the Ontario child benefit and affordable Housing. I would ask him, where would he find the funds necessary to invest in making our retirees more secure at this point in time? I think it's a big challenge; I think we need to come together nationally to solve it.
VIOLENT CRIME
Mrs. Laura Albanese: My question is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Two shootings in the span of the last 48 hours have deeply affected the community of York South-Weston. The first incident on Tuesday evening has claimed the life of a 19-year-old man, and from media reports I understand that the victim was shot several times in the back. Yesterday evening, another young man was shot several times in the head and in the leg near a bus shelter, and he is fighting for his life.

Minister, my riding has had a very high incidence of violent crimes in the past year. Gun crime on our streets affects not just those who are involved, but also people who are just going about their everyday life. The community has been working very hard to find solutions. What measures is our government taking to tackle these appalling acts-

There's a broader debate that we're going to have to engage in, I would argue, as a country. I think we see some of the competing views, and there's some validity to both of them. The member for the NDP says we've got to worry about people in the auto sector who have a defined benefit pension plan. A moment ago, my colleague Mr. Sterling said, "Well, what about the 65% of Ontarians who don't have access to any pensions? Are they going to be called upon to invest in those defined benefit pension plans?" That's the kind of thing that speaks to some very broad issues.

Back in 2006, we commissioned a report from Harry Arthurs. It's a very lengthy report. It's out for consultations, and we look forward to finding the best views from Ontarians on that particular score. Then we look forward to working with our colleagues from across the country to see what we might do to better support pensioners and all Canadians who may not have a formal pension as well.

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MUNICIPALITIES
Mrs. Liz Sandals: My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Ontario's major urban centres are growing rapidly. The issues of urban affairs are generating increasing interest and bringing greater attention to how cities work or how they struggle. There's no denying we're in for difficult times. The news media are full of commentary on these challenging economic times.

We all know that the global downturn is reaching right into our communities. In my community of Guelph, residents are worried about their jobs and providing a stable life for their families. They are asking for innovative government that utilizes resources available to them as best as they can.

In the minister's speech at the OGRA/ROMA conference in February, he touched on some of the innovative approaches Ontario municipalities are taking to address the needs of their communities. For the benefit of the House-

I think we were talking originally about some environmental initiatives and costs which might be borne by tenants. One of the things that we're proud to participate in, together with the federal government, is a program valued at over $700 million, if my memory serves me correctly, to retrofit existing social Housing to help get those costs down. I think that's an important step. There's always more to be done.

We're proud of the record that we also have when it comes to dealing with rents and, in fact, how little they've gone up relative to cost of living in so many other different areas.

One of the things that, at its core-and our families have many hopes and many higher aspirations, and they have some fears too. They have some real concerns. But I think the single most important issue they want us to address right now is, "Are there going to be jobs there for me and are there going to be jobs there for my kids?" We are absolutely committed to ensuring that we inspire confidence in the people of Ontario. We are prepared to take whatever actions are necessary to strengthen this economy. That means reducing business taxes. It means reducing personal taxes. It means moving ahead with a single sales tax. And by the way, it means moving ahead with a higher Ontario child benefit. It means investing in affordable Housing. Those are the kinds of things that we're doing, because they speak to the needs, the hopes, and they address the concerns of Ontario families.

I will, I will; give me a chance. There's no winning here; there's none whatsoever.

I thank the honourable member for her question. I think she recognizes as well, though, that Ontario remains one of only three provinces that are net contributors to the federation. We're proud to be in that position. The fact that we are receiving equalization is undeniable, but what Ontarians need to understand is that we're paying ourselves with our own money; I think it's important to understand that.

Our recent budget speaks to the challenges of the day. It is designed specifically to build both a more caring and a more competitive Ontario. So at the same time that, for example, we're increasing the Ontario child benefit and building affordable Housing, we are also reducing business taxes and personal taxes, and putting our economy on a stronger footing so that we can regain the strength that we need to support our schools and our health care and supports for our vulnerable.

Just so we put things in some perspective here, the budget is about building both a more competitive and caring Ontario. While we have cut business taxes-we will be cutting business taxes by $4.5 billion over three years-we're cutting them for people by $10.6 billion over three years. At the same time, we are investing in more affordable Housing; we're investing in more health care, more education, more post-secondary education. We're putting $32.5 billion into infrastructure to create those hospitals, schools, roads and public transit that benefit our communities and create 300,000 jobs in the short order, exactly when we need them. I would just ask my colleague to bring a more balanced, more measured consideration to the facts that make up our budget.

It's good to know that my honourable colleague has become an ombudsman for people in my caucus. But I want to thank my caucus for the wisdom that they injected into this budget and for the decisions that we've agreed to take as a government.

I believe that Ontarians know that this is a difficult period for us. In fact, it's the most difficult economic crisis we've had to cope with in some 80 years. You know, just as the world has changed, we too have to make some changes, and we're making a change that I'm not pretending is easy to make. We're going to reform our tax system, but we're going to do it in a way that provides maximum protection for our families.

The overwhelming majority of Ontarians are going to get a tax cut. We're increasing the Ontario child benefit, we're increasing the minimum wage, we're building new affordable Housing, and we're making pretty dramatic new increases in funding for health care, education and post-secondary education. We are building the future. We're going to have better jobs for more-

I can't speak to the specifics of any committee decisions with respect to what kind of travel they're going to do, but I can say that Ontarians who have paid some attention to our government and the approach we've brought to dealing with issues of poverty affecting too many Ontario families I think will come to the conclusion that our heart's in the right place.

Take a look at this most recent budget. We are just about doubling the Ontario child benefit. We brought forward a commitment that we were to deliver on in 2011 to 2009, from $50 a month to $92 a month. We're putting $1.2 billion into retrofitting social Housing and building more affordable Housing. We're going to ensure that our low-income earners pay the lowest level of income taxation in the country. So I think it is unfair to accuse us of not understanding and not reaching out to Ontario families who are affected by poverty.

I think that it's important to understand what we're doing here. We did listen to the Housing industry, and we did, of course, want to take into account new costs when it comes to our home buyers. We've provided an exemption for homes at $400,000 and less. I think the federal exemption only goes up to $350,000; we've exceeded that by another $50,000. Furthermore, the full effect of the new single sales tax doesn't take effect until you buy a home that's $500,000 or more.

If you look at all the homes sold annually in Ontario, the overwhelming majority are resale homes-used homes, so to speak. Then there are brand new homes; the overwhelming majority of those are valued at less than $500,000. In fact, they're at less than $400,000. We're talking about a small proportion of homes that are sold on an annual basis that are over $500,000. Our concern was for folks who are buying homes at less than $500,000.

Just to be clear, 93% of Ontarians will be getting a tax cut as a result of our package.

Again, we've already eliminated the capital tax for our manufacturers. It will be eliminated for everybody else next year. We're also moving towards a single sales tax and we're reducing corporate income taxes. We feel that it's absolutely essential as part of the package to putting Ontario on the road to recovery, but we will not lose sight of our most vulnerable. Again, we're increasing the Ontario child benefit from $50 a month per child to $92 per month per child. We continue to increase the minimum wage. We continue to invest in affordable Housing. We're reducing income taxes on our lowest income-earners to the lowest level in Canada. From an objective perspective, you cannot help but conclude that this Liberal government is moving forward in-

The NDP, of course, is saying that this is heavily weighted in favour of business. Business is saying it's heavily weighted in favour of our most vulnerable. We're actually not about left or right; we're about moving forward on behalf of all Ontarians.

I want to remind my honourable colleague that she voted against, and her party voted against, a direct $190-million rebate to manufacturers last year when we retroactively eliminated capital tax for them. Now she tells us that she's in favour of finding ways to move more quickly on the capital tax front. We are moving on the capital tax front. We are reducing corporate income taxes. But we're also increasing the Ontario child benefit; we're increasing the minimum wage; we are investing in affordable Housing; we're investing in health care, education, post-secondary education; and we're creating 300,000 jobs. It's a balanced, positive, progressive package that's suited to the values shared by Ontarians.

My colleague brings her own particular perspective on this; I respectfully disagree with that perspective.

I want to come back to something I said at the outset. We've tried to put forward a package of economic proposals that speak to the values of Ontarians. Ontarians know we need to do something and we need to do it together to make this economy stronger so it can support our public services that we want and that we want to give to our kids. At the same time, we want to build a more caring Ontario. So we have a package that cuts taxes for our businesses and at the same time improves standards for people, especially those in the vulnerable classes. That's why we're increasing the Ontario child benefit. That's why we're increasing the minimum wage. That's why we're going to ensure that the level of taxation paid by the lowest income-earning Ontarians is the lowest in the country and why we invest in affordable Housing and we put more money into health care and education and post-secondary education and we create 300,000 more jobs. I think it's a pretty good package-

I just don't see that, and I can't support that assertion on the part of my honourable colleague, if you think of the areas where we're putting in special support. We're increasing the Ontario child benefit. When we're talking about single-parent families, they are overwhelmingly led by mums, not dads. When we talk about increasing the minimum wage, there are a disproportionate number of women working for a minimum wage in comparison to men. If we're reducing income taxes for people working at the lowest level, again disproportionately, that segment of our workforce is represented by women. If we're building more affordable Housing, again to accommodate many single mums, that too benefits women. So I just can't agree with my honourable colleague in her assertion that somehow this budget discriminates against women. In fact, you might argue just the opposite.

I said that the world had changed, but I never knew it had changed that much. We now have the leader of the Conservative Party quoting the Ontario Federation of Labour, which represents a dramatic change.

Again, I want Ontarians to understand that we've worked hard to put forward a balanced approach to the people's finances. It's true we're reducing corporate income taxes, but we're also increasing the Ontario child benefit. We are increasing the minimum wage. We are investing in affordable Housing. We're going to make sure that Ontario's low-income earners pay the lowest level of personal taxes in the country. We think it is balanced. We think it's in keeping with our values. We think it's the kind of budget that Ontarians expected of us.

Let me tell you a little bit more about the budget, and I had the opportunity to talk to the media about it this morning, in terms of the balanced approach that we're trying to bring through this particular piece of public policy. We are both reducing corporate income taxes and increasing the Ontario child benefit. We're reducing the small business corporate tax rate and we're increasing the minimum wage. We're eliminating the small business clawback and reducing income taxes on the lowest income earners to the lowest level in Canada. On top of that, we're building affordable Housing and we're increasing funding for health care, education and post-secondary education. I think it's a budget that is suited to the times. It's going to build both a more competitive and a more caring Ontario.

I'd ask Ontarians to look at what's going to happen tomorrow when the sixth increase in minimum wage takes effect. We go up to $9.50. I'd ask them to take a look at what we've done with respect to the Ontario child benefit through this budget, increased from $50 to $92 per month per child. I'd ask them to take a look at the $1.2-billion investment we're making in social Housing. I'd ask them to take a look at the $260 sales tax credit that we're putting in place to provide protection to our adults and children alike in the face of the new single sales tax, and the permanent tax cut. We will now have the lowest tax bracket in Canada for Ontarians at low-income levels. I think if they take a look at the big package, they'll see that we are, in fact, building a more caring Ontario.

Well, again, I just don't see it the way my honourable colleague does. Our $32.5-billion investment in infrastructure will create 300,000 jobs in the short term. I would love to have my honourable colleague tell us that in addition to supporting that, she commends our move to dramatically accelerate the Ontario child benefit from $50 a month per child to $92 per month per child. I would like to hear her support for the $1.2-billion investment we are making in social and affordable Housing. I would like to get her support for the $260 new sales tax benefit for low-income families, children and adults alike. I would like to have her support on those particular aspects of the budget which speak to our desire to build not only a more competitive but a more caring Ontario.

In addition to those supports that we've put in place for our most vulnerable families, enhancing the Ontario child benefit and investing in social Housing and affordable Housing-by the way, that last program, that $1.2-billion investment in social Housing infrastructure, will create 23,000 jobs. I think the member knows that through our Green Energy Act, we're going to be creating tens of thousands of jobs in that area as well. I think she knows as well, because of the $32.5-billion investment we're going to be making in infrastructure over the course of the next couple of years, that represents some 300,000 jobs. I can tell you, if there's one thing that Ontario families continue to say they want, it's jobs, so our policies continue to help those who are most vulnerable and do what we can to create jobs as soon as possible.

I want to encourage my colleague from the NDP, as well, to wait for the budget and to see it in its fullness, and I'd ask her to keep in mind some of the things that we've already done.

For example, together with Prime Minister Harper, we're investing $1.2 billion in social Housing and affordable Housing. I don't know whether she's for that or against that. On our own, we have dramatically enhanced the Ontario child benefit so that it no longer pays $50 a month per child; it's now going to go to $92 per month per child. We think that is the right thing to do to support our most vulnerable families.

Again, I don't know whether my honourable colleague supports that measure or not. I know what she stands against, but I'm not sure whether she stands for those kinds of things, which I'd assume that she would support.

First of all, I want to begin by assuring and reassuring members of the Conservative Party, in particular, that the budget will be presented in this Legislature. I want to provide that level of comfort.

I also want to say that we are proud to work with the federal government to invest together $1.2 billion in repairs to some 50,000 social Housing units. At the same time, we're going to invest in building some 4,500 new, affordable Housing units, which we think is great news, especially for families who are struggling to get ahead, finding it particularly challenging at this point in time, given this worldwide recession. We think it's important news, and we're proud to have gotten it out to Ontarians, who know it's on the way.

Speaker, they are just trotting the same old one-trick pony out of the barn once again: "Business tax cuts will solve everything." We just don't see it that way. We're bringing a balanced approach.

We have cut business taxes. We continue to cut business taxes, to the tune of $3 billion.

We continue to invest billions and billions into infrastructure because we think it's important to invest in new schools, new roads and new hospitals. Our plan, just recently announced, was to invest $1.2 billion more, together with the federal government, in social Housing and affordable Housing in the province of Ontario. We think that's a real priority for families struggling with poverty. We continue to support innovation: Witness our new $250-million emerging technologies fund. We continue to partner with businesses, including in the auto sector, and we continue to invest in the skills and education of our people.

That's a balanced, thoughtful, progressive, comprehensive approach which stands in stark contrast to their one-trick pony.

PROVINCIAL PURCHASING POLICY

Yes, there is such a thing as a global recession. Yes, it is affecting the province of Ontario. Yes, it is causing job losses here. And yes, it is very difficult for anyone of us in this House, save and except for the leader of the NDP, who says that he can prevent any of that from happening here in Ontario. Perhaps he has some secret solution of which the rest of the people on this planet remain unaware.

When we've had opportunities to lend strength to our economy, time and time again, the leader of the NDP and his party have voted against that. When we've sought to shelter people who are being hurt by the economy, he stood against those measures as well. We said we wanted to put in place an Ontario child benefit, and we're doing that. He voted against that. We put in place 22,000 new, affordable child care spaces. He voted against that. We're raising rates for social assistance. He voted against that. Putting in place new affordable Housing units: He voted against those measures. So whether it comes to strengthening the economy or supporting families-

The leader of the NDP may see our new Ontario child benefit as talk, but I think it's something that is pretty substantive and pretty helpful to low-income households. The fact that we've increased the minimum wage several times-again, he may consider that talk, but I consider it pretty substantive. The same thing, I would suggest, applies to our increases in social assistance, affordable Housing, our dental program, our student nutrition program, our new parent and family literacy centres, and the work that we're doing with respect to our overall poverty strategy

I understand my friend's impatience and I can appreciate his single-mindedness on this, but we need to bring a comprehensive view on this side. We've got to reconcile all of these competing demands for new investments, and we will find our way through this together.

ONTARIO ECONOMY

My colleague is nothing if not creative. We have never said that the poor are going to have to wait. We've said that we're going to have to wait until December until we make public our strategy to address poverty. But we've moved all along during the course of the past five years, whether you're talking about our new Ontario child benefit, increases in the minimum wage-my friend says that they're not enough, and I understand that, but we've got to bring some balance to these issues. We've moved ahead with social assistance rates. We've invested in affordable Housing. We've doubled the student nutrition program in our schools. So the fact is we've moved along in a progressive way and in a thoughtful way and in an affordable way, and we will continue to do so. Again, the big announcement on the poverty front comes in December, in keeping with our commitment.

The leader of the NDP may see our new Ontario child benefit as talk, but I think it's something that is pretty substantive and pretty helpful to low-income households. The fact that we've increased the minimum wage several times-again, he may consider that talk, but I consider it pretty substantive. The same thing, I would suggest, applies to our increases in social assistance, affordable Housing, our dental program, our student nutrition program, our new parent and family literacy centres, and the work that we're doing with respect to our overall poverty strategy

I understand my friend's impatience and I can appreciate his single-mindedness on this, but we need to bring a comprehensive view on this side. We've got to reconcile all of these competing demands for new investments, and we will find our way through this together.

ONTARIO ECONOMY

My colleague is nothing if not creative. We have never said that the poor are going to have to wait. We've said that we're going to have to wait until December until we make public our strategy to address poverty. But we've moved all along during the course of the past five years, whether you're talking about our new Ontario child benefit, increases in the minimum wage-my friend says that they're not enough, and I understand that, but we've got to bring some balance to these issues. We've moved ahead with social assistance rates. We've invested in affordable Housing. We've doubled the student nutrition program in our schools. So the fact is we've moved along in a progressive way and in a thoughtful way and in an affordable way, and we will continue to do so. Again, the big announcement on the poverty front comes in December, in keeping with our commitment.

We understand how important it is for us to find a way to address poverty. That's why we put it in our platform. That's why we're so committed to finding ways to move forward on that front. That's why, during the course of the past five years, we've done things like create the Ontario child benefit, a monthly payment now flowing to families that will support 1.3 million children. That's why we've increased the minimum wage several times over. That's why we've increased social assistance rates several times over. That's why we've invested in affordable Housing. That's why we're investing in a new dental program. That's why we've doubled funding for our student nutrition program to help kids who are coming to school hungry. We've done a number of things and we look forward to doing more.

I think I've indicated a number of times, both in this Legislature and outside, our continuing strong commitment to make progress on this front.

But let me tell you: We're not waiting until December to launch any efforts when it comes to addressing poverty. We already have in place the Ontario child benefit, with monthly benefits now flowing to families, which will support 1.3 million Ontario children. We've raised the minimum wage a number of times now. We have raised the social assistance rates. We've invested more in affordable Housing. We're putting in place a new dental program. We have doubled the funding for our student nutrition program for children who are coming to school hungry.

Those are the kinds of programs that we have put in place; those are the kinds of programs that we continue to support. We look forward to building on that with our announcement in December.

GREENBELT