Mr Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question today is for the Premier, and I don't think you need the Integrity Commissioner letter on this one. On page 23, section 2 of your election platform, Growing Strong Communities, it mentions, "We will put 1,000 more police officers on the street." How many additional police officers can we expect to be put on the streets in the spring budget?

Hon Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): I refer the question to the Minister of Community Safety.

Hon Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): We made a commitment that we would put 1,000 new police officers on the streets of Ontario. We stand by that commitment, and during this mandate we will deliver those numbers.

Mr Dunlop: I'm not sure that answer is very satisfactory to the Police Association of Ontario, who will be in the building later on today. To the minister, when we were in office, we delivered on our promise to get 1,000 more police officers working in communities across the province. You remember the statement, "Promises made, promises kept." We kept our promise of 1,000 new police officers.

I just want to know, with all the turmoil we've seen and all the task forces we've seen taking place over the last few weeks, why are you being soft on crime on this particular issue? Why can't you give us or commit to deliver 1,000 new police officers -- at least some of them -- in the spring budget?

Hon Mr Kwinter: It's quite strange that we have a member of the previous government talking about broken promises. You gave a promise to the people of Ontario that you would deliver a balanced budget. You promised that you would deliver a balanced budget. Instead, we find that you delivered a deficit of $5.6 billion-plus, and that is what is hindering our ability to deliver those police officers today. But we will correct your mismanagement, and we will deliver those officers during our mandate.