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No. 87A No 87A ISSN 1180-2987 Legislative Assembly Assemblée législative of Ontario de l’Ontario First Session, 37th Parliament Première session, 37e législature Official Report Journal of Debates des débats (Hansard) (Hansard) Wednesday 11 October 2000 Mercredi 11 octobre 2000 Speaker Président Honourable Gary Carr L’honorable Gary Carr Clerk Greffier Claude L. DesRosiers Claude L. DesRosiers Hansard on the Internet Le Journal des débats sur Internet Hansard and other documents of the Legislative Assembly L’adresse pour faire paraître sur votre ordinateur personnel can be on your personal computer within hours after each le Journal et d’autres documents de l’Assemblée législative sitting. 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Phone 416-326-5310, 326-5311 or toll-free téléphone : 416-326-5310, 326-5311, ou sans frais : 1-800-668-9938. 1-800-668-9938. Hansard Reporting and Interpretation Services Service du Journal des débats et d’interprétation 3330 Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley St W 3330 Édifice Whitney ; 99, rue Wellesley ouest Toronto ON M7A 1A2 Toronto ON M7A 1A2 Telephone 416-325-7400; fax 416-325-7430 Téléphone, 416-325-7400 ; télécopieur, 416-325-7430 Published by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Publié par l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario 4535 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE OF ONTARIO DE L’ONTARIO Wednesday 11 October 2000 Mercredi 11 octobre 2000 The House met at 1330. after the local recreation centre, and they have a Can- Prayers. adian 46-cent stamp in their honour. Another important individual to the community was Bryn Gilles. After a battle with cancer, memorial dona- MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS tions were made in Bryn’s name and the recreation centre used the proceeds to purchase a large-screen movie projector. Now local children have the chance to watch ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION movies and share fun in their own community. Although I did not have the opportunity to meet these Ms Caroline Di Cocco (Sarnia-Lambton): The great men, I know from the kind remarks that were made Ontario Trillium Foundation is failing charitable organ- in their honour that they were truly heroes. izations in Sarnia-Lambton. Revenue sources have been The village of Ailsa Craig is a vibrant community reduced by 45% with the introduction of slot machines located northwest of London on Highway 7 in the county and charity casinos, which have replaced revenue from of Middlesex. Ailsa Craig is famous worldwide for its volunteer-run bingos and Monte Carlos. annual turtle races, held every July. Minister Hodgson stated in 1998 that charities would receive 100% of the net revenue from table games at the I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the council of charity casinos. It’s ironic that the charity casinos are the village of Ailsa Craig for inviting me to attend their now detrimental to charitable organizations’ ability to appreciation banquet. My thanks go to Reeve Don Ship- raise funds. The organizations in jeopardy are the Alz- way, councillors Lynne Burns, Ken Johnston, Gary heimer Society, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, the Canadian Keays and Bob Thomson for organizing this event. Hearing Society, the Canadian Mental Health Associ- Ailsa Craig is an example of what makes our province ation, the Canadian Red Cross, Family YMCA, Goodwill strong and vibrant. Industries, Huron House boys’ home, the Multiple Scler- osis Society, the Sexual Assault Survivor Centre, the SPORTS AND RECREATION FUNDING United Way, the VON, the Women’s Interval House, Rebound and Senior VIP. Mr Mario Sergio (York West): Non-profit com- These organizations are in crisis because the Trillium munity organization volunteer groups and local neigh- Foundation’s funding process is restrictive and has no bourhood sporting clubs no longer can provide services provision for assistance to existing successful programs. or operate programs due to extreme and prohibitive These organizations are facing program reductions, pro- increases in leasing community space. gram eliminations, cutbacks in staffing and inability to Three hundred per cent increases over last year’s rate meet new community needs. In other words, the social are quite common in many communities, and this spells support structure of Lambton county is in jeopardy. the end of many recreational programs for after-school The reality proves that Minister Hodgson was wrong groups. when he stated that more dollars would go to charities. This can only give way to more and, in many cases, Where is all the gambling money going? higher user fees. This is unfair to the thousands of needy and poor kids who will be affected. For the many hard- working families in my riding of York West and also AILSA CRAIG APPRECIATION BANQUET throughout Ontario, it will be unbearable to come up with Mr Bert Johnson (Perth-Middlesex): Last Saturday, more money for after-school programs. I had the privilege of attending an appreciation banquet Cuts in provincial funding that affect school boards for volunteers in my riding of Perth-Middlesex. The are, in effect, penalizing our children. The Mike Harris village of Ailsa Craig hosted this special evening to government’s new funding formula is responsible for the honour those who donate their time, talent and skills to cuts and the empty community spaces. Many volunteers serve their community. and volunteer organizations are ready and willing to face Two of the individuals receiving recognition were the the challenge, but only if affordable community space is late Tye Barnes and Bob Hooper. Tye and Bob were available. great friends and were dedicated to Ailsa Craig. They I call on you, Premier, to get involved and make a worked together on many projects, including looking commitment to provide the necessary funding. Premier, 4536 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO 11 OCTOBER 2000 please support our community groups, our volunteer Many times, Premier, you pointed your finger at the organizations and, above all, our kids. federal government and said they’re the cause of the problem. You have not once, at a first ministers’ confer- ence, raised the issue of farm subsidies. Not once did it BRAMPTON ECONOMY have any significance to you. Mr Joseph Spina (Brampton Centre): I’m pleased Our farmers look with envy at the support provided today to bring more great news from Brampton. Recently the agricultural community in Quebec and Alberta. the Brampton Economic Development Office was Deliver on your promise of last year and five years ago to presented with both a gold and platinum award at the work for the farmers. Agriculture in this province is 32nd annual Economic Developers Association of under attack. Action is needed now. Canada congress. The gold award was for the best among 1340 those communities with a population of 150,000 or more, and the platinum for the best community economic development program in Canada. HOME CARE Brampton’s submission detailed the progress the city Ms Frances Lankin (Beaches-East York): At lunch- and its many partners have made since launching the time today I attended a demonstration of home care successful Small Business Enterprise Centre in 1998. At workers outside of the Minister of Health’s office. In that time the economic development office moved from a case she wasn’t listening out the window, I want to repeat location somewhere on the fifth floor of city hall to a the message. Toronto’s SPRINT home care workers, street front. personal support workers, have been on strike now for Since then, the number of new businesses in Brampton five weeks. Monday night, 200 CCAC workers in Hamil- has grown at a significant rate. Before this move the ton went on strike. These workers are out on the frontline small business self-help office served about 4,500 clients delivering home care services and they know how your and registered maybe 1,000 or so businesses per year. competitive bidding model has failed the clients they The new Small Business Enterprise Centre has assisted serve on an everyday basis. 18,000 clients and registers 4,500 new businesses per The Ontario Home Support Association and Ontario year since February of 1998. Community Care Association have issued a report calling The Small Business Enterprise Centre is dedicated to the state of human resources in the community care supporting small business growth by providing free sector “a looming crisis.” There are long waiting lists for business consulting, access to information, computer services. We see the disparity in wages between the com- Internet access, accountant and lawyer referral program, munity sector and the hospital sector, leading to a flood site selection and many other services. of qualified workers leaving the community and going to I’d like all members of the House to join me in con- the hospital. That means there aren’t the supports there. gratulating our Brampton Economic Development Office That means the money that the minister announced this in this tremendous achievement, an idea that I was very morning will not end the emergency room crisis.