Ontario Hansard - 21-October2009

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: It's a pleasure to be able to speak to this bill on the TSSA.

As the previous critic for consumer and government services, I had the opportunity to speak to this piece of legislation at first reading. I was also the critic during the tragedy at Sunrise Propane. I just want to reiterate my comments that I made last spring.

It shouldn't have taken an explosion for the minister to do his job, and it shouldn't have taken an explosion to see a piece of legislation on how to better protect Ontarians. The McGuinty Liberals had an opportunity when the explosion at Sunrise occurred; he had an opportunity to visit the site. He had an opportunity to visit the site, and he didn't act for what I believe was almost a week. He failed to take any immediate action, and now we have a new minister who's going to herald this legislation through the chamber, through second reading and then third reading, and obviously through committee.

I think it's important at this particular time to also credit the former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, John Tory, who in the immediate aftermath of the Sunrise Propane explosion took the necessary steps to go to the constituents, to help them, and later to work with me and other members of the Progressive Conservative caucus to write several recommendations which were never, ever acknowledged by the sitting Liberals. It's unfortunate that again we see not only with the TSSA but with so many other pieces of legislation, such as the public expenses act, that this government acts only when the spotlight is shining on them.