Mr Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question today as well is to the Acting Premier. Minister, just yesterday I asked your colleague Minister Kwinter when he would bring forth to this House the legislation he promised last December to make reporting of gunshot wounds mandatory. I report he promised separate legislation, not Bill 31.

I must say you all seemed a little content and confused in the feeble manner in which you, Minister Kwinter and the Attorney General are all pointing at each other as to who should take the lead on mandatory reporting of gunshot wounds. Now you're all pointing and saying that Bill 31 seems to be the answer. Minister, will you say here today that Minister Kwinter's promised legislation for mandatory reporting of gunshot wounds will be forthcoming and not just one more broken Liberal promise?

Hon George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): From the party that once promised not to close hospitals in this province, that was very interesting.

I would say very clearly to the honourable member that the Minister of Community Safety will introduce a piece of legislation this spring. In order for the bill to withstand a constitutional challenge, we're going to make sure that we get the bill right in the first place, and if that takes a tiny bit of extra time, we feel that's a prudent step to take. But I reaffirm the commitment, which is that the Minister of Community Safety will introduce a bill this spring.

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Mr Dunlop: Minister, I appreciate your answer. Before you start talking to us and reporting to us on health care, maybe you should learn your own file on health care spending.

Minister, you know that the Ontario Medical Association has already endorsed mandatory reporting. By the way, the Toronto Star has, and so has the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. In 2002, emergency physicians in this province were asked in a survey, "Do you feel there should be mandatory reporting of gunshot wounds, intentional or accidental, by ER physicians?" Over 75% of the physicians surveyed said yes to that question.

So what are we waiting for? What's more important to you: the rights of criminals, or the safety of our communities? Minister, we need the Minister of Community Safety to finally take some action and not just keep warming his seat over there.

Hon Mr Smitherman: Thank you very much for that very generous question, Mr Speaker.

I want to say, in response to the honourable member, just a few things. Firstly, the Minister of Community Safety indicated yesterday that he would be in a position to meet with the Ontario Medical Association this Friday. I've undertaken conversations and am personally supportive of mandatory gunshot reporting. I've made that clear. I reaffirm the commitment I made a moment ago.

I would just remind the member that he stands up and asks a rather sharp question, but while he was a member of the government the then Minister of Health, Tony Clement, vetoed such an initiative.