Queen’s Park Highlights - May 20, 2011

MPPs will be spending the week of May 23- 27 in their ridings for the last Constituency Week before the Legislature adjourns for its summer break.

1. NDP Education Critic raises Concern re Support for School Libraries

People for Education, a research advocacy organization, released a report this week that documents the continuing decline of school libraries.  On May 16, NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese pointed to the report and asked: “Why is the McGuinty government allowing the gradual yet dramatic death of school libraries in Ontario?”

Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky replied:

“Our government… has increased funding in education overall by 46%, but certainly directly to libraries as well, because we see them as very important resources. I think that if you read the report carefully, you will appreciate that the number of school librarians has actually increased under the term of this government. We will continue to work with boards.”

In answer to a question later that day from Liberal backbench MPP Bruce Crozier, the Minister indicated that the increase in funding for library staff included library technicians and that funding for new schools has supported libraries:

“Since 2003, since we’ve come to government, the number of full-time equivalent teacher-librarians and library technicians has increased by over 12%, from 2,892 positions to 3,240 positions this year. It is important to note that every new school built in the province of Ontario has accommodation for a library, because our government values the resource of a library in every school.”

To read the People for Education report on school libraries, click here.

2. PC Leader commits to Eliminating HST on Energy Bills

On May 19, PC MPP Christine Elliott criticized the government’s policy of applying the HST to energy bills.  She stated:

“Ontario PCs think that’s wrong, which is why our leader announced that an Ontario PC government will give families relief by taking the HST off residential hydro and home heating bills and removing the so-called debt retirement charge from their hydro bills. Minister, why won’t you?”

Energy Minister Brad Duguid replied:

“For the second week in a row, the Leader of the Opposition has made another huge rookie mistake. Let me get this straight: You want to replace the clean energy benefit that’s taking 10% off people’s bills with a scheme that’s going to take 8% off people’s bills? That’s going to cost Ontario families 2% more.

“Then you want to take the $350 million a year that’s being put on to the hydro debt that you created when you were in power and add that to the provincial deficit. How is that credible? How does that help Ontario families?

“Then on top of that, you want to put thousands of Ontario workers out of work. You want to tear down our clean energy economy. You want to damage our international reputation.”

3. Opposition slams Merit Bonuses for eHealth Staff

On May 18, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath pointed to information indicating that employees of eHealth are receiving merit pay on top of 7.8% pay increases. She asked: “Can the Minister of Finance explain why front-line health care workers are being told their wages will be frozen while others are seeing huge increases?”

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan replied:

“We have brought down the average rate of settlement in the public and broader public sectors. Working with our partners in the public and broader public sectors, we have continued to build on our record of investing in front-line services. We will continue to do that across the province.

“We have hired some 10,000 nurses, and 1.2 million Ontarians now have a family doctor who did not have a family doctor when we came to office. We will continue to work with the public and broader public sectors, with union, as well as management, as we transition back to a balanced budget at the same time as we continue to build the vital public services that all Ontarians have come to rely on.”

PC Leader Tim Hudak also raised the issue and asked the government to explain the bonuses of up to 10% for eHealth employees. Government Services Minister Harinder Takhar replied:

“This agency reports to the Minister of Health, but let me just generally say that I absolutely expect all agencies, including eHealth Ontario, to adhere to the rules around compensation restraint. Our government was very clear about our expectations. The Minister of Health is meeting and is going to speak to the board chair and is asking for a full accounting and review of their decisions. We want assurance that their actions and the actions of all agencies follow not only the letter of the law but the spirit of the law.

“Performance pay, as you may remember, was actually brought in by the other government. It was brought in by the Conservative government.”

4. NDP Leader questions Propriety of Political Contribution

On May 18, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath asked the government to respond to an example of a community college president expensing a donation to a political party:

“Yesterday, we revealed that a president of a publicly funded college was reimbursed by his institution for a $5,000 donation to the Ontario Liberal Party. He paid it back only after we filed a freedom-of-information request. My question is: Is this an isolated incident?”

Acting Premier Kathleen Wynne replied:

“…let me just say that there are rules in place that govern political donations. We follow those rules. I trust that the member opposite follows those rules. Our understanding, under Ontario’s Election Finances Act, is that the Liberal Party may only accept contributions from individuals, unions that hold bargaining rights for Ontario workers, and corporations that carry on business in Ontario and are not registered charities.

“In addition to these legal requirements, the Ontario Liberal Party does not accept contributions from hospitals, colleges, universities, municipalities or from any organization that receives public funding. If you fall within one of these categories, please do not make a contribution.

“Those are the rules. The money was paid back, and the member opposite knows that.”

5. Government introduces Legislation to Address Election “Dirty Tricks”

On May 17, Attorney General Chris Bentley introduced legislation to address a number of election-related “dirty tricks” that came to light during the recent federal election. In introducing the bill, Minister Bentley stated:

“According to news reports, Elections Canada received numerous complaints during the federal election. It was alleged that people falsely claiming to be from Elections Canada allegedly called voters in British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, and directed them to vote at incorrect stations. These allegations have caused us to take another look at our laws.”

He explained that Ontario election law needed to be updated to address the problem.

On May 18, in a preamble to a question, PC Ms. Lisa MacLeod stated that the Premier’s “backroom operatives sent out an email alleging that Conservatives, the Ontario PC Party and our leader” were involved in the alleged dirty tricks. She asked: “Will you state categorically in this House that that sort of libel and smear is unbecoming of the Liberal Party and apologize to our Prime Minister and to the Ontario PC leader?”

Acting Premier Kathleen O. Wynne replied:

“I’m not sure what kind of innuendo or rumour the member opposite is talking about. What we’re trying to do is, we’re concerned about any allegations or reports of fraud and misinformation that might have taken place during the federal election campaign. What we’re interested in is making sure that the provincial election process is as up front, as transparent and as open as possible. That’s all this is about.”

6. Bill 160, the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act, passes

On May 18, the Occupational Health and Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011 passed with unanimous support of all three parties.

The amendments follow from the December 2009 report of the expert panel led by former cabinet secretary Tony Dean.  The amendments transfer responsibility for prevention from the Workers’ Safety and Insurance Board to the Ministry of Labour.  Other provisions include the establishment of a prevention officer and a prevention council consisting of employee and employer representatives and health and safety experts.

7. MPPs acknowledge International Day Against Homophobia

On May 17, a representative from each party made a statement in the Legislature acknowledging International Day Against Homophobia. Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky spoke to the importance of creating safe and inclusive learning environments in schools and recited the government’s initiatives related to safe schools and equity and inclusion.

PC Education Critic Elizabeth Witmer stated:

“One of the issues that has been brought to my attention is the issue of bullying, harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation, so it’s an opportunity for us to speak out and indicate that this is unacceptable, no matter where it takes place in our schools or in our communities.”

NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese spoke of the important role played by gay-straight alliance clubs in schools and about NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo’s attempt to promote amendments to the Ontario Human Rights Code to  add “gender identity” to the list of attributes protected from discrimination  He also stated:

“Ontario New Democrats believe that society’s strength and vibrancy comes from embracing and celebrating our diversity. Today we encourage everyone in the province to join together in our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities and to learn more about homophobia and transphobia. We stand united in our determination to end this discrimination and abuse and to make this province truly welcoming for all Ontarians.”

For more information, check the website of the Ontario Legislature:  www.ontla.on.ca