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a * Qrono Weekly lUttes, Wednesday, May 24, a000 )■ by John O'Toole, MPP This week is Constituency Week, which means that members are able to spend time in their constituencies as the Legislature will not be in session. This time is so important to MPPs, as it gives us the chance to meet with our constituents and focus on events and meetings taking place in our ridings. The Legislative Assembly concluded last week on a controversial controversial note. It began last January with an article published published in the Globe & Mail. The Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC), Ms. Ann Cavoukian, released a report on this matter on April 26th entitled, "A Special Report to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on the Disclosure of Personal Information by the Province of Ontario Savings Office (POSO), Ministry of Finance". The report was critical of how POSO and the Ministry of Finance handled the release of confidential information on their depositors. The IPC report accused the government government of obstructing her investigation. investigation. Renfrew-Nipissing- Pembroke MPP, Sean Conway, raised a Point of Privilege with the Speaker nearly two weeks ago and on Thursday, the Speaker, the Honourable Gary Carr, reported back to the Assembly. There are a number number of technical issues involved, the first being that existing statutes do not require information requested by the IPC to be released. Furthermore, civil servants and Ministers take oaths of confidentiality not to .disclose certain cabinet information. It should be noted that none of the depositors' confidential information was ever released to the general public. The IPC report had seven recommendations, recommendations, four of which have been acted upon. Finance, Minister Ernie Eves entered a Notice of Motion #49 on May 16th referring the matter to the Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly to review the Information arid Protection of Privacy Act and report back to the Legislature. In some ways, the same issue is before the federal government's, government's, Ministry of Human Resources and the Minister, Jane Stewart. Our personal information, stored on computer computer data files, needs to be secured. Of this there is no question. The larger question is what information do we need, why do governments need this information, who has access to it and why? This is the "Big Brother" scenario of George Orwell's book, "Brave New World". I am very interested in this issue because, in a general sense, it falls under consumer protection protection and the role of the government. government. With all the computer computer hackers and viruses around these days, it is clear that we must strengthen the legislative legislative authority in this area. Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Honourable Elizabeth Witfher has announced $1 billion billion in hospital capital funding. funding. This Budget 2000 commitment commitment is part of our reform and modernization initiative in health care. For Durham, this means that Lakeridge Health will receive $30 million million to modernize the Oshawa site's cancer treatment, emergency emergency and ambulatory care expansion. These funds, along with the portion raised by the community, will give us more modern health facilities closer to patients and their families. Health Care is primarily a provincial issue. Originally, under the Canada Health Act, the federal government funded funded health care at 50 percent, but today in Ontario, their transfer payment share is now approximately 11 cents for every dollar spent. The provinces have been having an ongoing debate with the Federal Health Minister, the Honourable Alan Rock, to commit more money for health care. I noticed in the local newspaper newspaper that our federal MP, Alex Shepherd, is hosting a health forum on May 31st at 7;30 pirn, in the Garnet B. Rickard Complex in Bowmanville. I will try to attend to ensure that we are both working together to return the transfer payment to Ontario. Having a healthy environment environment is at the foundation of good health. Our Minister of Environment, the Honourable Dan Newman, is committed to maintaining clean soil, water, air and respects our natural environment. The recent report on the Oak Ridges Moraine, along with our moratorium on coal-fired generating plants, is reassuring. reassuring. We must keep in mind that all electricity creates some environmental backlash. backlash. This summer we will be hearing. more about the importance of air quality with regard to people of all ages with .breathing problems. Each one of us must put more emphasis on our environment - re-cycling papers, metals and cardboard is only part of what we can do. There is also the careful use of our natural resources, including our cars, electricity, reliance on air conditioning, watering our lawns, use of fertilizers and burning outdoors. Governments can create laws and regulations, but it's also up to each person to make their own contribution towards a solution. One such policy that involves everyone in this effort is the Ontario Drive Clean program. The matter of our environment will grow in importance as our population increases and ages. 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