No. 37 No 37 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 5 April 2000 Mercredi 5 avril 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 1901 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE OF ONTARIO DE L’ONTARIO Wednesday 5 April 2000 Mercredi 5 avril 2000 The House met at 1330. The establishment of full cardiac surgery at the Cen- Prayers. tenary hospital site of the Rouge Valley Health System would allow close to one million residents access to a full range of cardiac services closer to their home. MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS Our community has worked hard to show support for the establishment of cardiac surgery in our area. Led by the Cardiac Care Community Advisory Group under the volunteer leadership of Mr Phil Diamond, close to 200 HOMECOMING 2000 volunteers have been supported by 125 schools, 165 Mr Dave Levac (Brant): Today I rise in the House to churches, 25 service clubs and some 225 local businesses bring to the attention of the members present and the to gather more than 18,000 signatures supporting ad- citizens of Ontario that a special event is being held in vanced cardiac services. Brantford, one of the two municipalities in the riding of The Rouge Valley system is already known for its Brant that I have the honour of serving. extensive roster of cardiac services, including a cardiac Homecoming 2000 is an opportunity for all former, catheterization lab, rapid evaluation and treatment for present and wannabe Brantfordians to come home. The heart attacks, stress testing, nuclear function studies, a organizing committee has put together a spring- and permanent pacemaker clinic and a full cardiac rehabilita- summer-long millennium celebration that promises to be tion clinic. Cardiac surgery is the only service not nothing less than fun, exciting, friendly, and the creator currently being offered at Centenary hospital, and its of loving memories. Coming home is grand. addition is essential. Here are just a few of the participants you can visit I applaud the work of the CCN and I urge the Minister while coming home: The St John’s College Reunion of Health and Long-Term Care to commit to funding 2000 is on May 12 to 14; the Glenhyrst Art Gallery cardiac surgery at the Centenary site of the Rouge Valley Family Fun Day is on June 2 to 4; the Cockshutt Health System, so that the residents of Durham region Homecoming Festival and Exhibition is June 2 to 4. and eastern Toronto finally have full access to all these The event that has my face looking somewhat differ- essential services. ent today sees a beard-growing contest to raise money for the food bank. I’m told that I’m looking somewhat COMMUNITY SAFETY unkempt. It’s for a good cause, and I beg the indulgence and patience of the House. Mr George Smitherman (Toronto Centre-Rose- Interjection: You look like Gilchrist. dale): Today I am joined in the gallery by a group of Mr Levac: Steve, to your credit. people from the riding of Toronto Centre-Rosedale, and in particular the St Lawrence neighbourhood. The St The food bank’s Empty Bowls Gala is on June 10. Lawrence neighbourhood and the constituents in my Finally, on July 1, homecoming weekend, we have—a riding deserve adequate protection from crime. Regret- chance to rid myself of this salt-and-pepper facial hair— tably, this government’s motto on so many things is, our Cockshutt Park Homecoming Day, and on July 2, our “Doing more with less,” and in the city of Toronto that gala homecoming parade and picnic. means we have to cope with fewer police officers. Yes, For more information, call (519)751-9900. fewer. There are 90 fewer police officers in the city of Toronto since when this government was elected, and that number is in decline. The municipality of the city of CARDIAC CARE Toronto is dealing with rising debt from downloading, Mr Steve Gilchrist (Scarborough East): I rise today because this government doesn’t believe in standing up to again add my voice of support for the establishment of for the words it speaks too often. full cardiac care in the eastern GTA. In its report released In the last little while, the government has been muted March 10, 2000, the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario in response to a series of murders in my riding. Where estimated that cardiac surgery in the eastern GTA can be actions speak, this government offers only words, tough expected to grow by 36% by the year 2006, a rate which talk. With respect to the issue of crime, Mike Harris’s is more than double the estimated population growth of government is all loud talk. The Solicitor General and the 14% during that period. Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, in 1902 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO 5 APRIL 2000 response to murders in my riding, had a press conference. ministry hotline for the closest test date may work in the Yes, in response to the problem of murder in the greater Toronto area, but it’s not an option in Essex. constituency of Toronto Centre-Rosedale, this govern- People can go to Windsor or Chatham, both with similar ment did nothing to put more police on the streets. wait times. In fact, one person was advised that a test Instead, they ordered up another backdrop. They had could be obtained more quickly if they went to St another press conference. They called one more con- Catharines. If your solution is for someone to drive to St ference for London this fall. Catharines for a test, perhaps you should invest in a road I challenge the government opposite—the member for map. You know, they would have to navigate Carnage Willowdale was on his feet on this subject the other Alley to get there. day—to do something to put more police on the streets of Minister, stop your game of phony questions and Toronto, not fewer. hollow announcements and address the problem. The testing centre in the county must be reopened in order to provide service and eliminate the backlog. ONTARIO ECONOMY The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): If the members Mr David Young (Willowdale): During the winter would kindly appreciate other members—I know that in break I had the opportunity to meet and consult with some cases they’re not even heckling, but there is some business leaders from throughout my community of talking—to be polite, if we could. Willowdale. We spoke about the upcoming budget. They told me that we need to continue to cut taxes, balance 1340 budgets and spend within our means. We need to con- tinue to cut property taxes, payroll taxes and corporate CHURCH FIRE taxes, and we need to keep on pressuring the federal Ms Marilyn Churley (Broadview-Greenwood): I government to cut their excessively, high EI premiums. want to take this opportunity on behalf of the New They also told me that we need to invest in our infra- Democratic Party to express our sympathy to the Greek structure. We need that investment to ensure that our community of Toronto over the fire which destroyed the highways and transportation network can meet the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox expectations of economic growth. Over $1 billion in Church two days ago. goods and services cross the Canadian border each and I have, on occasion, visited this beautiful church and every day, most of it here in Ontario. Our infrastructure participated in Easter services in the church with friends must be strong if our province is to compete and succeed from the Greek community from my riding of Broad- in the 21st century. view-Greenwood, and I’m deeply saddened by the loss of I am proud to say that Willowdale continues to grow.