Queen’s Park Highlights - June 4, 2010

The Legislature adjourned for its summer break on June 3, 2010. In marking the end of the spring session, Premier McGuinty listed the Early Learning Program as one of the government’s top five achievements for the year. MPPs are scheduled to return to Queen’s Park for the commencement of the fall session on September 13, 2010.

This week Opposition MPPs focused most of their Question Period queries on the Harmonized Sales Tax issue in an attempt to build as much public concern as possible and make it an election issue going forward.

1. Impact of Early Learning Program (ELP) on Child Care Sector

Child care providers across the province have been raising concerns regarding how the movement of Kindergarten-aged children to full-day school programs will affect the viability of their programs. On May 31, Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre) asked what steps the government is taking to minimize the impact of the ELP on child care programs. Minister Dombrowsky responded:

“...we are providing for those facilities $51 million annually at full implementation to help stabilize the child care sector. In addition, we've also provided $12 million to child care facilities so they can refit their businesses to accommodate younger children. In addition to that, in our last budget we provided the $63.5 million that the federal government did not provide- “

In a supplementary question, Mr. Naqvi asked the minister to respond to concerns from the child care sector that the government wasn’t moving fast enough to implement Dr. Pascal’s overall vision as outlined in his June 2009 report as the Early Learning Advisor. Children and Youth Minister Laurel Broten responded by stating:

“We're looking at ensuring that all services for children zero to six are better integrated, better coordinated, and moving from a chaotic mix of services to one where every single parent, every single caregiver, every grandparent will know what door to use with their child to get them the services they need so that they will be ready when they start all-day junior kindergarten at the age of four.

“Dr. Pascal's vision is one that builds on the Best Start networks. We'll be working with communities right across the province to help ensure that every single child in Ontario gets the best possible start in life…”

2. Legislature approves Sign-Language Interpretation

On May 31, Liberal House Leader Monique Smith announced that there was unanimous consent on the part of the three parties to allow sign-language interpreters to work in the public gallery to interpret proceedings for guests to the Legislature.

3. NDP Leader questions Timetable for Accessibility Act

On June 1, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath referred to the independent review of the implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act conducted by former Liberal MPP Charles Beer and raised concerns that the province may not be “on track to meet its 20-year target.” She asked whether the government would commit to adopting the review’s recommendations. Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur replied:

“I can assure the House that we are in a good position to be fully accessible by 2025. I want to thank all of those who helped us to develop standards. We have hundreds of people sitting on this committee to help us to develop the standards...”

“We will be on time. Before the end of this year, the five standards will be in place. We're very proud of the progress we have made. Again, thanks to everyone who helped us in that endeavour.”

4. PC MPP proposes New Committee to review Health and Education Expenditures

On May 31, PC MPP Jerry Ouellette introduced a private member’s bill that proposes to establish a new Standing Committee on Public Accounts for Health Care and Education. Mr. Ouellette explained the committee was necessary given that 62 percent of the provincial budget is allocated to health and education expenditures.

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