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Today, I would like to inform the House about our continuing commitment to support the men and women in the Canadian Forces who today serve their country with such courage and valour. Canadian Forces members serve in dangerous commissions abroad, they respond to natural disasters here at home, and they stand ready to protect our sovereignty and that of our allies. Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for us, so it seems to me it's only right that our province be there for them.
Ceci est la raison pour laquelle notre gouvernement présente un projet de loi qui rendra la vie du personnel militaire et de leur famille plus facile.
That's why our government is introducing legislation that would make life a little easier for Military personnel and their families.
I would like to thank members of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, including chair Sonja Bata, for being here today. They are in the gallery today.
This proposed legislation has two main elements. First, if passed, it would provide immediate access to OHIP coverage for eligible Military family members. As members of the Legislature may know, newcomers to Ontario face a 90-day waiting period for services insured under OHIP. This policy affects family members from the Military who have moved to our province. Even in cases where coverage is provided by the province they are leaving, there can still be hardship. For example, Military families coming to Ontario from Quebec often have to pay physician fees up front during the OHIP waiting period. They request reimbursement later. This is a burden Military families should not have to bear. Our proposed legislation, if passed, would make OHIP-eligible Military family members exempt from the 90-day waiting period. They would have immediate access to coverage for the full range of provincially funded care.
Second, this legislation provides job protection to reservists. Many Ontarians make the brave and selfless choice to serve in the Canadian Forces reserves. They do this on top of raising their families, building their careers and contributing to their communities. Their commitment to the reserves can mean extended missions away from home and work for either a crisis in Canada or a mission abroad. For example, about 200 Ontario reservists will be deployed to Afghanistan in March of next year. Most employers appreciate this commitment and ensure their job is safe and is there for them upon their return.
Ce projet de loi, si adopté, accordera à tout réserviste une garantie absolue que leur emploi est protégé alors qu'ils sont en service.
This legislation, if passed, will provide an absolute guarantee of job protection for every reservist while on a tour of duty.
There's one more commitment our government is making to Military families. It may only ever impact a small number of people, but it's important because it's about removing an obstacle that could stand in the way of an Olympic dream. The Quest for Gold Ontario athlete assistance program has a one-year waiting period; to qualify, you must have resided in Ontario for one year. Effective immediately, Military families will be exempt from this requirement.
A writer by the name of David Kenyon Webster, who fought in the Second World War, once wrote, "Those things which are precious are saved only by sacrifice." When the men and women of the Canadian Forces are asked to make sacrifices to safeguard what we hold precious-freedom and democracy-they don't hesitate. So when their families need important government services, we're not going to make them wait. Reservists make a tremendous sacrifice for all of us. They're the backbone of any Military. We're going to back them up and make sure their job is safe for them.
Les personnes qui portent l'uniforme font un travail difficile. Elles s'inquiètent pour leur famille, et leur famille s'inquiète pour elles.
People who serve in uniform have a tough job. They can't help but worry for their families, and their families can't help but worry for them. The measures that we propose today will make life a little easier for the entire family, giving them peace of mind knowing our province supports them. Ontarians in the Canadian Forces do so much for us. Together, through this legislation, we can do something for them.
This bill is really a modest but important way to say thank you. I ask all members for their support so that together we can stand up for our Military families. Let me add as well that it appears that we are going to have unanimous support for this bill. On behalf not of my government but of Ontario Military families, I want to thank all members and particularly members of the opposition for their support for this timely intervention.
Mr. McGuinty moved second reading of the following bill:
Bill 2, An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to provide reservist leave and the Health Insurance Act to eliminate the waiting period for Military families / Projet de loi 2, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2000 sur les normes d'emploi afin de prévoir un congé pour réservistes et la Loi sur l'assurance-santé afin d'éliminer la période d'attente pour les familles des militaires.
Today, I would like to inform the House about our continuing commitment to support the men and women in the Canadian Forces who today serve their country with such courage and valour. Canadian Forces members serve in dangerous commissions abroad, they respond to natural disasters here at home, and they stand ready to protect our sovereignty and that of our allies. Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for us, so it seems to me it's only right that our province be there for them.
Ceci est la raison pour laquelle notre gouvernement présente un projet de loi qui rendra la vie du personnel militaire et de leur famille plus facile.
That's why our government is introducing legislation that would make life a little easier for Military personnel and their families.
I would like to thank members of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, including chair Sonja Bata, for being here today. They are in the gallery today.
This proposed legislation has two main elements. First, if passed, it would provide immediate access to OHIP coverage for eligible Military family members. As members of the Legislature may know, newcomers to Ontario face a 90-day waiting period for services insured under OHIP. This policy affects family members from the Military who have moved to our province. Even in cases where coverage is provided by the province they are leaving, there can still be hardship. For example, Military families coming to Ontario from Quebec often have to pay physician fees up front during the OHIP waiting period. They request reimbursement later. This is a burden Military families should not have to bear. Our proposed legislation, if passed, would make OHIP-eligible Military family members exempt from the 90-day waiting period. They would have immediate access to coverage for the full range of provincially funded care.
Second, this legislation provides job protection to reservists. Many Ontarians make the brave and selfless choice to serve in the Canadian Forces reserves. They do this on top of raising their families, building their careers and contributing to their communities. Their commitment to the reserves can mean extended missions away from home and work for either a crisis in Canada or a mission abroad. For example, about 200 Ontario reservists will be deployed to Afghanistan in March of next year. Most employers appreciate this commitment and ensure their job is safe and is there for them upon their return.
Ce projet de loi, si adopté, accordera à tout réserviste une garantie absolue que leur emploi est protégé alors qu'ils sont en service.
This legislation, if passed, will provide an absolute guarantee of job protection for every reservist while on a tour of duty.
There's one more commitment our government is making to Military families. It may only ever impact a small number of people, but it's important because it's about removing an obstacle that could stand in the way of an Olympic dream. The Quest for Gold Ontario athlete assistance program has a one-year waiting period; to qualify, you must have resided in Ontario for one year. Effective immediately, Military families will be exempt from this requirement.
A writer by the name of David Kenyon Webster, who fought in the Second World War, once wrote, "Those things which are precious are saved only by sacrifice." When the men and women of the Canadian Forces are asked to make sacrifices to safeguard what we hold precious-freedom and democracy-they don't hesitate. So when their families need important government services, we're not going to make them wait. Reservists make a tremendous sacrifice for all of us. They're the backbone of any Military. We're going to back them up and make sure their job is safe for them.
Les personnes qui portent l'uniforme font un travail difficile. Elles s'inquiètent pour leur famille, et leur famille s'inquiète pour elles.
People who serve in uniform have a tough job. They can't help but worry for their families, and their families can't help but worry for them. The measures that we propose today will make life a little easier for the entire family, giving them peace of mind knowing our province supports them. Ontarians in the Canadian Forces do so much for us. Together, through this legislation, we can do something for them.
This bill is really a modest but important way to say thank you. I ask all members for their support so that together we can stand up for our Military families. Let me add as well that it appears that we are going to have unanimous support for this bill. On behalf not of my government but of Ontario Military families, I want to thank all members and particularly members of the opposition for their support for this timely intervention.
Mr. McGuinty moved second reading of the following bill:
Bill 2, An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to provide reservist leave and the Health Insurance Act to eliminate the waiting period for Military families / Projet de loi 2, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2000 sur les normes d'emploi afin de prévoir un congé pour réservistes et la Loi sur l'assurance-santé afin d'éliminer la période d'attente pour les familles des militaires.