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March 22, 2023

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2023-Mar-22 vol. A (PDF)

L055A - Wed 22 Mar 2023 / Mer 22 mar 2023

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 22 March 2023 Mercredi 22 mars 2023

Orders of the Day

Working for Workers Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs

Members’ Statements

World Water Day

Attawapiskat First Nation

Burlington Teen Tour Band

Cost of living

Brampton West Youth Council food drive

Indigenous consultation

Semaine de la Francophonie

Flooding

Tatum Hutchinson / Taylar McCallum

Events in Richmond Hill

Introduction of Visitors

Independent members

Question Period

Land use planning

Government accountability

Fiscal and economic policy

Water quality

Employment standards

Environmental protection

Arts and cultural funding / Subventions pour les arts et la culture

Northern Ontario development

Child care

Women’s employment

Affordable housing / Homelessness

Mining industry

Tenant protection

Government services

Visitors

Deferred Votes

Seniors Month Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 sur le Mois des personnes âgées

Visitors

Petitions

OPP detachment

Soins de santé

Adoption disclosure

Land use planning

Arts and cultural funding

Volunteer service awards

Arts and cultural funding

Adoption disclosure

Arts and cultural funding

Health care

Alzheimer’s disease

Visitor

Orders of the Day

Working for Workers Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs

Royal assent / Sanction royale

Working for Workers Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs

The House met at 0900.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Good morning, everyone.

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Working for Workers Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs

Mr. McNaughton moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 79,

An Act to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour and other matters / Projet de loi 79, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne l’emploi, le travail et d’autres questions.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I recognize the minister to lead off debate.

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I am really excited and pleased to rise today to debate Bill 79, the Working for Workers Act, 2023.

Before I begin debate in the House today, I want to acknowledge that I’ll be dividing my time with my two parliamentary assistants, the member for Mississauga–Malton and the member for Scarborough Centre. I want to also just say to both of them, thank you so much for your leadership and all the work you’re doing at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to train the future workers in our province and to have their backs every single day.

I also want to thank the Premier. From the Premier, to the Premier’s office and his staff—the Premier has led the pathway for our government to ensure that we have the backs of workers we’re working for every day, to bring in truly game-changing opportunities for workers in the province, to ensure that we’re bringing in tough health and safety measures to protect our workers, who are out there every day building the province. So to the Premier, thank you for your leadership. It is truly historic—many of the changes that we’re bringing forward.

I also want to thank my amazing staff, many of whom have been with me since 2018, since we formed government, when I was at the Ministry of Infrastructure. My chief of staff, Josh Workman, has been with me since I was elected, back in 2011. I want to thank my incredible team who have worked so hard in the ministry to introduce, again, game-changing legislation. We have not seen anywhere in North America and, in some cases, around the world a number of these legislative changes that we are bringing in.

I think of past legislation that my team worked on and our government passed—the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act—to get more young people into the skilled trades and of how we’ve worked with our labour partners, labour unions, employers and industry associations to put forward changes to give more people opportunities and pathways into these amazing jobs.

We passed Working for Workers 1 and Working for Workers 2, which I will talk about soon.

We brought in legislation—I think it was since I have been here, in 2011—that passed probably the fastest of any bill, and that was our COVID paid sick days bill that we passed during the pandemic.

My team worked on job-protected leave during the pandemic. It was the first piece of legislation that we brought forward when COVID hit our province. We were the first in the country to bring in job-protected leave to ensure that anyone who was impacted by COVID can’t be fired for staying home.

Then, of course, we brought in legislation to deal with WSIB changes during the pandemic to ensure that we have a sustainable system, to be there for our workers and to be there for small businesses, in particular.

Our government is committed to improving the lives of workers and making Ontario the best place to live, work and raise a family. Everything that we do is about ensuring that Ontario is the best place to live, work and raise a family.

This current bill, which I’ll speak to shortly, builds on the strong success of our two previous Working for Workers bills that this House passed in 2021 and 2022.

In our first bill, we introduced measures to make it easier for workers to spend time with their families and loved ones, by requiring employers to have a “right to disconnect” policy. We were the first jurisdiction in the country to do this. There needs to be a line between work and family time. Every day, our men and women put in an honest shift, and they deserve to unplug when they are off the clock.

We also banned the use of non-compete agreements—the very first in Canada. This ensures fairness for our workers by allowing them the opportunity to advance their careers, and helps smaller and growing businesses find the skilled workers they need.

In our first bill, we also protected and supported vulnerable workers by establishing mandatory licensing of recruiters and temp help agencies, and we established the harshest penalties in the country for lawbreakers.

For truckers and food delivery drivers, who keep our world moving and bring what we need to our doorsteps, we enshrined their right to use washrooms in the businesses and restaurants they serve.

Furthermore, we made it easier for internationally trained workers to practise the professions they trained in when they come here to Ontario so that they can realize the Canadian dream and build our economy for the next generation.

We followed these workplace improvements with our Working for Workers Act, 2022. In this bill, we made Ontario the first province in Canada to establish a minimum wage and other foundational rights for digital-platform workers who provide rideshare delivery and courier services. These rights—like the right to regular pay periods, the right to keep their tips, and the right to resolve work-related disputes here in Ontario—go a long way to levelling the playing field between these workers and the companies they work for.

Building on our work to help those from other countries start their careers here, we took steps to make it easier for those from other provinces to do the same. Effective March 31 of this year, workers from other Canadian provinces or territories who apply to work in their regulated profession must receive a registration decision within 30 business days. In the race for talent, this change is an important part of how we’re taking a customer service approach to those who want to come here to Ontario.

In our second bill, we also took action to reduce overdose deaths by requiring employers to provide a live-saving naloxone kit in workplaces where opioid use may occur. This was also a first in North America.

We also enhanced worker health and safety by increasing maximum fines for directors and officers of businesses who fail to provide a safe work environment.

And in our second bill, Ontario became the first province to protect workers’ privacy by requiring employers to develop an electronic monitoring policy and share it with employees.

Both of these groundbreaking pieces of legislation are already helping the millions of workers here in Ontario, yet there is obviously more we can do to support workers and help them find good jobs.

Ontario is facing a truly historic labour shortage that’s holding back our ambitious plan to build the homes, schools, hospitals, transit and other projects our families need. Whether you’re a gig worker, a pipefitter, a plumber or a health care technician, our government has your back, and we’re only getting started.

That’s why I’m here this morning to proudly talk about our government’s plan to continue our progress with Bill 79, our Workers for Workers Act, 2023. Working with labour leaders and businesses, we’re proposing unprecedented action to keep, attract and equip people to thrive in today’s world of work and power future economic growth.

Let me begin with an issue our province is facing today. Right now, approximately 300,000 jobs are going unfilled. That means nearly 300,000 salaries are not being collected. That’s 300,000 lost opportunities for a worker and their family to get ahead. At the same time, there are many workers looking for a job or chance to get ahead, including over 800,000 people relying on social assistance. Our government knows that something has to be done.

Today, the average age of a skilled tradesperson here in Ontario is over the age of 55, and the average age of an apprentice is 29. In construction alone, we need 100,000 skilled workers over the next 10 years to fill the positions as workers retire and we prepare to build Ontario at an unprecedented speed. To help deliver our province infrastructure plans, including building 1.5 million homes by 2031, we need more people in the skilled trades, especially young people, who have their entire lives ahead of them. The trades are full of exciting careers where workers can earn six figures, work towards a defined pension, and have a job for life that they can be damn proud of.

That’s why, along with the Premier and the Minister of Education, I announced earlier this month that Ontario is help young people prepare for in-demand, well-paying careers in the skilled trades by allowing students in grade 11 to transition to a full-time skilled trades apprenticeship program. As part of this, workers who receive their certificate of apprenticeship could also receive their Ontario secondary school diploma as mature students. At a time when we continue to face historic labour shortages, this change will mean that more students can enter the trades faster than ever before to help build Ontario.

Our government is proud of the work that we’ve done to erase the stigma around skilled trades, to invest in young people’s exploration of these in-demand and purpose-driven careers, and to help end the labour shortage to unlock Ontario’s economic potential. That is how we are getting our province’s skilled trades system back on track for the next generation.

Across Ontario, there were 600,000 people working in construction in 2022. Every one of the workers is a hero, yet the conditions these workers face can be rough.

One of the biggest injustices I’ve seen on construction sites is the condition of washrooms. That is why, last month, in February, my ministry launched the first inspection blitz targeting dirty washrooms in provincial history. Since then, our health and safety inspectors have visited over 1,800 job sites and found over 244 violations. The common issues they found were no toilets being provided, facilities that lacked privacy, and failures to meet basic cleanliness and hygiene standards.

That is why we’re taking action to double the number of washrooms on job sites and introduce the toughest standards in North America. Our new rules would require toilets to be completely enclosed and would require washrooms to be adequately lit and to have hand sanitizer where running water is not possible. Furthermore, we’re requiring larger construction sites to have at least one women-only washroom.

In addition to improving washrooms, we’re also making it clear that protective equipment and clothing provided, worn or used by workers in construction are required to be a proper fit. It’s not only the right thing to do, but it’s necessary to keep our workers safe. Everyone should have protective clothing, boots and safety harnesses that fit properly.

Women belong on our job sites, and they should see themselves reflected in the protective equipment and clothing that they wear.

We must ensure that the skilled trades are open to everyone. Our government is proud of the steps we have taken so far, and we’ve seen the results. In the past year, the percentage of new entrants to the skilled trades who are women is up by a historic 28%. However, we’re not satisfied yet. We’re going to continue pursuing measures that will encourage women to join the skilled trades and make sure the doors to these in-demand careers are open to everyone.

I have emphasized that Ontario is facing a historic labour shortage and that this shortage hinders our economic growth. Immigration is a crucial tool we can use strategically to fill labour market needs and spur further job creation. Yet, relative to population, Ontario can select fewer economic immigrants than any other province. When Ontario is able to nominate immigrants for permanent residence who best meet the needs of our communities, everyone wins.

That’s why the Premier and I have been working for months with our federal counterparts to land a better deal, a new deal, for Ontario when it comes to immigration. Last week, on Saturday, I was pleased to join my counterpart and friend, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, for a truly historic announcement. The federal government has answered our calls to double our annual allocation for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program to 18,000 by 2025. This will help ensure that we have the skilled individuals and innovative entrepreneurs Ontario needs to grow and prosper.

Everyone who chooses Ontario should be able to pursue their dreams right here. That’s why we are proposing additional changes to remove even more of the barriers that internationally trained professionals face when seeking to work in regulated professions. In Bill 79, we’re proposing changes that will ensure alternatives to Canadian work experience cannot create new barriers for newcomers, because newcomers wanting to contribute to our communities deserve a chance to do just that.

We also know that the world of work has changed. For many, the daily commute to work is now simply down a flight of stairs or across the room. Automation and the Internet have uncoupled geography from employment. In the fourth quarter of 2022, 1.4 million workers here in Ontario were working exclusively from home, and another 800,000 were working via a hybrid model. And while these remote workers don’t have a desk in the office, their contributions to their employers and to Ontario’s economy are just as valuable.

Unfortunately, it is increasingly common for workers, especially in big tech, to find out they’ve been laid off via the media. That’s simply unacceptable. To address this alarming trend, we have proposed provisions to treat those who work remote with the same protections as those who work in-office. If passed, this would mean fully remote employees have the right to more notice that they’re losing their jobs or pay in lieu of notice. In some cases, they would receive up to eight times more notice or pay. That doesn’t make much difference to a billion-dollar tech company’s balance sheet.

But a little more time to find the next step in their career can make a huge difference to a worker and their family. It’s also the right thing to do.

On a much happier note, we are requiring employers to provide basic employment information before new workers start their first shift. This written information will outline things like pay, work location and hours of work—things every worker should know before they start a new job. In addition, balancing the scales between new hires and their employers will help attract workers to that business.

Attracting more people to the workplace is the best way to boost our economy and will develop Ontario for the next generation.

Additionally, our government is standing up for our men and women in uniform, reserve force members. Thousands of people in Ontario are active reservists in the Canadian Armed Forces. These courageous men and women are an integral part of Canada’s national defence and the security of our country. They put their full-time careers on hold to join important military missions at home and abroad, and they step up to provide support during search and rescue operations, natural disasters, ice storms, wildfires, conflicts and other major events.

We know it isn’t easy for military reservists to pack up and leave on a mission, especially if they’re just starting a new job, and it isn’t always easy for them to immediately return to their job afterwards, especially if their mission is difficult or traumatic.

That is why we have proposed to reduce the length of employment needed before going on reservist leave to just two months of continuous employment, down from the current three months, and there would be no length-of-employment requirement if the leave is for assisting during a domestic emergency. This ensures that when somewhere in Canada is in crisis, our reservists can put on their uniforms and help their neighbours.

Our proposed legislation would also create a new leave to help our reservists recover from injuries after a deployment. This includes physical or mental health treatment and recovery or rehabilitation related to serving Canada.

These proposed changes build on job-protected leave already in place for reservists, including protections we introduced last year. We’re giving those who selflessly serve us the piece of mind they deserve.

With these changes, we are proud to make Ontario’s reservist leave among the most flexible and comprehensive in all of Canada. I am proud to stand up for our men and women in uniform, and our government will continue to do so. It’s the least they deserve for putting their lives on the line for their service to Canada and for all of us.

A key emphasis in our proposed legislation is protecting vulnerable workers. As we know, Ontario relies on foreign workers to help fill labour shortages in our province. Yet despite prohibitions in the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act, some scumbag employers continue to take foreign nationals’ passports and work permits. This is illegal. Bad actors and lawbreakers need to know that if they do this, we will hold them accountable.

You can run, but you can’t hide. We will find you, and we will put you behind bars.

Speaker, our government is strengthening protections for foreign workers. We are proposing to establish the highest maximum fines in Canada for employers and recruiters who are convicted of taking or retaining a foreign national’s passport or work permit. If our proposed amendments are passed, individuals convicted would be liable to either a fine of up to $500,000, up to 12 months in prison, or both. Corporations would be liable to a fine of up to $1 million.

We have no tolerance for labour trafficking in Ontario. No matter a person’s immigration status, you have rights.

Speaker, our government is committed to the health and safety of every worker in Ontario. Workers need to be safe on the job, and employers need to be held accountable when they violate health and safety laws. That is why we are proposing amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act that, if passed, would increase the maximum fine for corporations convicted of an offence under the act from $1.5 million to $2 million. This would give Ontario the highest maximum corporate fine under workplace health and safety legislation in the country. The idea that injuries at the workplace are the cost of doing business is over. We will hold lawbreakers accountable.

I also want to talk for a minute about measures we intend to take for Ontario’s firefighters. These brave men and women are there for us in times of our greatest need; in return, we must be there for them. They do what others won’t do: They put their lives on the line to save others. We all know that and are forever thankful for their courage. What many might not know is that firefighters die of cancer at a rate four times higher than those in the general population: 25 to 30 firefighters die every year in Ontario.

We owe it to them and their families to ensure they have easy access to compensation for work-related illnesses. That is why our proposed legislation has provisions to make it easier for firefighters, fire investigators and their survivors to get access to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board compensation. We will be expanding presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters to include primary site thyroid and pancreatic cancers—cancers that can upend the lives of firefighters and their families.

By presuming thyroid and pancreatic cancers are work-related, firefighters can get easier access to benefits and easier access to the supports they need to recover. These measures will be retroactive to January 1, 1960, helping to ensure that those who have these cancers or have had them in the past can get the help they need and deserve. This will apply to all firefighters: those who are full-time, part-time and volunteers, as well as firefighters employed by First Nations band councils, and fire investigators. Firefighters look after our families, so we need to do what we can to help them.

Speaker, together we can protect and support our workers to thrive in today’s world of work, find better jobs and earn bigger paycheques. We can address Ontario’s labour shortage by helping workers gain skills for in-demand jobs to help build Ontario for the next generation. Together, we can create a more prosperous and fair society.

Our proposed legislation is one more step in our ongoing efforts to make Ontario the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family.

Now I will yield my time to my parliamentary assistant and the MPP for Mississauga–Malton.

Mr. Deepak Anand: Before I start, I just want to say thank you to the minister for the wonderful remarks and the amount of work he is doing for the workers in the province of Ontario. He is a true champion.

It’s kind of a coordinated effort today.

I’m pleased to rise in the House today for the second reading of Bill 79, the Working for Workers Act, 2023. During my remarks, I’ll be covering the past, present and future of our province, how we look at it.

Remember the time in 2018 when we took over the government—we were part of the government. Before that, 300,000 manufacturing jobs left the province of Ontario. In 2018, Ontario had the highest debt of any subnational government in the world.

Since 2018, the tables have turned. Under the leadership of the Premier, the government has created conditions for prosperity in the province. This is the government that took Ontario’s GDP beyond the $1-trillion mark in 2021. That is incredible. Thanks to each and every Ontarian for your hard work. It was only possible because we all came together, worked hard and were able to deliver this.

It’s no surprise the members of this caucus are continuously interacting and listening to the residents, to make their lives easier and better.

Many times, I have talked about this: I came to Canada on January 15, 2000, and took my first full-time job as a lab technician at Novaquest, an automotive company. Around 2003, and after, we saw a spiral of reduction of the workload. One of the key reasons was that it was becoming difficult for auto manufacturers to keep up with the cost. The formula is simple: If you’re doing business, and your cost is $10 and your revenue is $12, you’re sustainable. But if your revenue is $10 and your cost is $12, what choices do you have? Reduce your cost, move out or close. And that’s what we saw in each one of those categories.

But since 2018, we worked with the industry to reduce the cost and, through job-creating policies, supported increase in revenue. We did this by cutting red tape, reducing the cost of doing business, making workplaces safer and empowering the workforce. We’ve saved $570 million in annual regulatory compliance costs. We made sure that revenue goes up, expenses go down and businesses become sustainable. The result is very simple. We’ve seen investments of close to $17 billion here in the province of Ontario. We talked about the past, with 300,000 manufacturing jobs leaving day to day.

Now, we have 300,000 jobs available in the province of Ontario, and that is due to the policies of this government.

To connect job seekers with in-demand jobs, we are working on four pillars:

(1) help workers and job seekers upskill and train;

(2) promote opportunities and connect people with jobs, especially in the trades;

(3) bring in new workers from other provinces and across the globe—we know the province of Ontario is an amazing place to live and raise a family; and

(4) make sure Ontario workplaces are globally attractive to workers.

We are moving all of these levers, under the leadership of Minister Monte McNaughton and Premier Ford, to propel Ontario forward. We’re offering more and better training opportunities to help people prepare for better jobs and bigger paycheques—and it’s not just words; it is what we are delivering here. That is why we invested in the Better Jobs Ontario program. It offers job seekers up to $28,000 to help with short-duration training and in-demand jobs.

Interruption.

Mr. Deepak Anand: Ontario is saying we’re doing a great job.

Through three rounds of the Skills Development Fund to date, Ontario has invested $700 million through 388 projects. The result: 400,000 workers have taken the next step in their careers in in-demand industries. That’s what we’ve done.

We are supporting training specifically for women under-represented in skilled trades, Indigenous people, newcomers, visitors under the emergency travel measures, young people, workers with disabilities, people on social assistance, and people who have been in conflict with the law to get back on track for sustainable employment.

These are the ways we are working to make sure we’re delivering results for the people of Ontario.

Thanks to this government, because of the policies that were created, because of the investments and new employers that came to Ontario, we have more jobs today than we had in 2018.

So what we need to do if there’s a problem is, we need to find a solution.

Our government is transforming the way employment services are delivered. We’re making it easier for job seekers to access the training and support they need, especially those on social assistance. We’re doing this by creating a streamlined, one-stop shop for employment services. This means better access to job matching and career coaching. It also means that we’re working and making it easier for employers to find workers to grow their business. And the result? The result is, we have seen 63,200 people now on a path to a job, including over 23,000 who were on social assistance. That is how we turn the tables.

It’s not just giving them a job or just giving them financial independence; it is empowering them. That is the focus of our government—to empower Ontarians so that we can come together and build a better Ontario.

Recently, the minister announced that we are bringing new employment services to Windsor-Sarnia, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Barrie, Durham and the Ottawa region. This includes introducing service system managers—organizations that will design, plan and deliver employment programs in these local areas.

Madam Speaker, I talked about SDF. Our government is also investing $224 million in a new capital stream of the Skills Development Fund, which will provide eligible applicants, including unions, with funding to update or convert their existing facilities into training centres. I always talk about this—simply put, it is common sense. Jobs need people, and people need jobs. What we need to do is to bring them together, help them, upskill them, give them the tools required, and with those, we can help them to get a job. When people get a job, they contribute to society, and employers thrive. But we can’t do it alone—unless we work with everyone.

Immigration is another focus area for the government. While Express Entry is the flagship federal program to immigrate to Canada, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has been proactively responding to the skills shortages in the target areas. Yet, relative to the population, Ontario can select fewer economic immigrants than any other province; for example, we were only allowed to have 4.5%, compared to Quebec’s 52%. Thanks to this minister, and thanks to each one of you, in fact, we advocated and we worked hard, and the results came—I talked about the problems and the solution and the result.

That’s why the Premier and the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development has worked with the federal counterpart to land a better deal for Ontario. Thanks to those efforts, Ontario now gets to double its OINP allocation to 18,000 by 2025—starting from 9,000, to 18,000. This historic increase will help us fill jobs in the skilled trades, technology and health care. In other words, we’ll be able to serve our Ontarians better.

As we invite more people to call Ontario home, we are also creating an enabling environment to help them realize their dreams. In 2020, immigrants made up about 33% of Ontario’s workforce. The vast majority, however, are not working in the fields in which they are educated—75% of internationally educated immigrants are not working in their field. If these immigrants are able to work in the field in which they are educated, it would mean collecting a bigger paycheque; it would mean increased revenue for the employer; it would mean higher contribution to our province and the local economy.

So it’s a win-win situation. When we help immigrants get to their dreams faster, we all win. That is why we are making it easier for immigrants to settle and find jobs in their field.

Ontario was the first province in Canada to prohibit regulated professions from requiring internationally trained persons to have Canadian work as a qualification for registration. To further help them work faster, we are making additional changes, through Working for Workers, 2023, to the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act. The proposed changes in Working for Workers, 2023, will include introducing a new duty for regulated professions to consult with their oversight ministries and to make sure that they’re considering Ontario’s labour market needs—again, a problem followed by a solution. That is what this bill is doing.

We are also going an extra mile in supporting our skilled trades. There are roughly 1.2 million people working in skilled trades as of right now. But at the same time, in 2021 nearly one in three journeypersons with a certificate of qualification in Ontario was aged 55 or older. In the construction sector alone, 72,000 new workers are needed by 2027. We talk about building 1.5 million homes. We talk about having subways. We want to have highways. We want to have 86,000 child care centres. We want to have these places—long-term care for our seniors—but all those would need skilled trades, all those would need more labour.

That’s why we want to make sure, to help deliver the province’s infrastructure plan, we are here to help Ontario.

That is why we introduced Ontario’s Skilled Trades Strategy, investing nearly $1 billion to make it easier than ever to learn a trade, by breaking the stigma and attracting youth, by simplifying the system, and by encouraging employer participation.

We’re doing this by our government launching our first annual trades career fairs, where high school students get to learn about life-changing career opportunities, try trades, and hear directly from the tradespeople.

Under the leadership of Premier Ford, working together, we are seeing the progress—again, a problem followed by a solution and seeing the result of it. As of February 2023, apprenticeship registrations are up by 27% in Ontario compared to last year. And what’s most important—we talk about having more women in construction, in the trades. It’s not just words; we’re delivering it. How? Registrations for women in Ontario are up by 24%. So I just want to say thank you to everyone who has registered. These are fantastic opportunities—the chance to make a six-figure salary, have a job for life, and be proud of what you build.

Starting with students entering grade 9 in September 2024, all students will now be required to earn a grade 9 or 10 technological education credit as part of their Ontario secondary school diploma. The new graduation requirement will introduce Ontario students to at least one technological education course that would guide them to a future career in the highly skilled workforce, including the skilled trades. In addition, our government is also allowing students in grade 11 to transition to a full-time skilled trades apprenticeship program. Upon receiving your certificate of apprenticeship, you can apply for your Ontario secondary school diploma as a mature student.

Madam Speaker, it’s as simple as this: When we talk about having more people in the skilled trades, we need to encourage, we need to make our students—and more than students, I think; we need to make our parents aware of all the opportunities we have in the skilled trades. Think about if we didn’t have people from the skilled trades. Look at this beautiful building—we would not have anything which we have here. So it is important for us to work with the parents and make them aware that through the skilled trades, we’re able to achieve a better Ontario.

We will not stop here. We will also talk to the education stakeholders, and we’ll push forward to get more workers that we need to build a stronger Ontario.

Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are working tirelessly to inform job seekers of the unlimited opportunities available here in Ontario. Together, we are building a stronger Ontario that leaves no one behind.

The minister briefly talked about the support that we’re getting from our staff. I usually think about an analogy: When you talk about the minister or I—we’re basically like a screen, but there is a big processor behind that screen, and that processor is no one but our wonderful staff.

I want to take a moment to thank my constituency staff and the ministry staff for everything they do for us, so that we can deliver to the province of Ontario.

Madam Speaker, to conclude, this bill is very simple. We heard from the stakeholders, but rather than just listening to what they said, the minister took time, effort and made sure what they told us, as a problem—when we worked with them, consulted them, to provide us a solution, by working with them, we are able to bring the legislation that will give us the results.

Through this bill, we are making sure—for military service, we’re proposing to reduce the service requirement from three months to two months. We are also expanding the reason for taking leave to include physical or mental treatment.

We are expanding cancer coverage for firefighters.

We are making sure we are enhancing fines to protect workers—making sure that, through the Occupational Health and Safety Act, we are increasing the fine from $1.5 million to $2 million. In fact, those employers convicted of taking possession or retaining a foreign national’s passport or work permit—we’re enhancing the fines for them.

We’re making sure we have clean washrooms on construction sites.

We want to make sure that we have our women’s workforce—giving them the support they need by providing that large construction sites with over five washrooms at least have one washroom exclusively for female workers.

We’re providing remote work protection.

We’re preparing students for skilled trades jobs.

We’re helping newcomers start their careers and expanding employment services.

This is a bill which in turn is going to build on our narrative of building a stronger Ontario.

I am going to support this bill, and I’m looking forward to each and every member of our caucus supporting this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): The member from Scarborough Centre.

Mr. David Smith: I have to share the compliments of my minister, Monte McNaughton, and PA Anand for working together as a team in making certain that Bill 79 becomes law in Ontario.

I’m pleased to rise in the House today for the second reading of Bill 79, Working for Workers Act, 2023.

I have been working with the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to further support and protect workers and their families.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge our Premier for his tremendous leadership and support for this bill and our last two pieces of Working for Workers legislation. These acts have been helping millions of people, and we will continue moving Ontario forward. Earlier this week, we announced further changes that would, if passed, expand on those successes.

Ontario is experiencing unprecedented labour shortages. Our proposed changes would help increase labour supply and ensure that workers have the right skills for in-demand jobs. The way we work has been changing and evolving for some time, and the last few years have accelerated these changes. Where we work, how we work and the meaning we find in what we do all need to adapt, because an economy that doesn’t work for workers doesn’t work for all. Our government is planning for the workplaces of the future. We are proposing changes to spread opportunities and give Ontario workers a better deal and employment experience.

Nowadays, it’s possible never to go in to an office in a physical location. Technological advances have uncoupled geography from employment. These changes have resulted in globalized competition for highly skilled workers and revealed gaps in our labour and employment laws.

The legislation we introduced, if passed, would make employees who work solely from home eligible for the same enhanced notice of termination as in-office and other employees in a mass termination situation. Ontario’s Employment Standards Act provides for greater notice or pay in lieu of for employees affected by mass termination. Mass termination provisions generally apply if 50 or more employees are terminated at an employer’s establishment within four weeks. Depending on the number of employees terminated in the case of a mass termination, an employee could be entitled to eight, 12 or 16 weeks of notice.

Under the Employment Standards Act, an employee’s private residence is not considered part of the employer’s establishment, so fully remote workers may not be included in the employee count when determining whether the 50-employee threshold for mass termination has been reached. The proposed changes in Working for Workers Act, 2023, would help fix this gap. If passed, the changes would broaden the definition of an employer’s establishment to include employees’ private residences if they solely work remotely.

This could entitle employees who exclusively work remotely to a longer notice period or pay in lieu of layoff notices.

We have all read about workers employed by billion-dollar tech companies learning that they have lost their job via the media, and that shouldn’t happen, ever. Mass terminations can make it for difficult for employees to find alternate employment, and by providing these protections, our government is standing up for workers who are terminated.

Putting workers first means giving them the tools they need to stay safe. It also means protecting them from bad employers and recruiters.

Ontario relies on foreign workers to help fill labour shortages in our province. However, despite the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act prohibitions, some employers continue to take foreign nationals’ passports and permits. This increases the possibility of exploitation of vulnerable foreign workers.

That is why our government is proposing to strengthen protections for foreign workers by introducing changes that would, if passed, establish the highest maximum fines in Canada—fines that will apply to employers and recruiters who are convicted of taking or retaining a foreign national’s passport or work permit. If amendments are passed, individuals convicted of taking or retaining a foreign national’s passport or work permit would be liable for either a fine of $500,000 or up to 12 months in prison, or both, and corporations will be liable for a fine of up to $1 million.

The proposed increase in maximum fines aims to prevent labour trafficking in Ontario. Anyone can be a target of labour trafficking, but migrant workers and newcomers to Canada looking for work can be at higher risk. Our legislation would support government efforts to protect vulnerable workers essential in building up our province’s economy.

Our government is committed to the health and safety of every worker in Ontario. Employers have significant responsibility for health and safety in the workplace. They must keep a safe and well-maintained workplace. Workers need to feel safe on the job, and businesses must be held accountable when violating the health and safety laws of Ontario.

That is why this legislation would amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act to increase the maximum fine for corporations convicted of an offence under the act from $1.5 million to $2 million. This would give Ontario the highest maximum corporate fine under Canada’s workplace health and safety legislation. Corporate fines under the Occupational Health and Safety Act have not been increased since 2017, when the increase was from $500,000 to $1.5 million.

The increased fine proposed in the Working for Workers Act, 2023, would, if passed, deter violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act by corporations. It would reinforce the importance of putting workers’ safety first. Workplace injuries and death should not be a cost of business.

Speaker, our government is proud to protect workers who protect us. This includes military reservists, who put their lives on the line for us. Thousands of people in Ontario are reservists. These courageous men and women are integral to the Canadian Armed Forces. They put their full-time career on hold in their communities to join important military missions at home and abroad.

Yesterday, our government introduced legislation that, if passed, would provide better protection for our reservists and remove barriers to their deployment. The proposed legislation, if passed, would reduce the length of employment needed before going on a reservist leave to just two months of continuous employment, down from the current three months. And there would be no length of employment requirement if the leave is due to deployment to assist during a domestic emergency.

The proposed legislation would also expand the reasons for taking the leave, to help our reservists recover from injuries after deployment—reasons that include physical or mental treatment, recovery or rehabilitation related to a military operation or specified activity. These proposed changes build on job-protected leave already in place for reservists, including protections we introduced last year.

These changes, if passed, would cover all military reservists in Ontario covered by the Employment Standards Act who participate in Canadian Armed Forces military skills training, are deployed to assist in a domestic emergency, or are deployed abroad. In introducing these changes, we are standing up for our front-line heroes while they protect us. We are trying to give them peace of mind that their job will await them when they return. We are proud to propose changes to make Ontario reservist leave among Canada’s most flexible and comprehensive.

I want to take this moment to talk about another group of heroes, our firefighters, and measures the Ontario government intends to take through regulations to make sure we are leaving no one behind. Firefighters risk their lives to enter smoke-filled buildings to rescue people, battle out-of-control blazes and respond to other emergencies. Their work touches the lives of so many people and communities across Ontario. They are there for us in our greatest need, and we should be there for them.

Firefighters die of cancer at a rate up to four times higher than the general population, with 25 to 30 passing away yearly in Ontario. We owe it to them to ensure they have easy access to compensation for these work-related illnesses. The Ontario government plans to propose a regulatory change to make it easy for firefighters, fire investigators and their survivors to access Workplace Safety and Insurance Board—WSIB—compensation by expanding presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters to include primary site thyroid and pancreatic cancers.

By presuming thyroid and pancreatic cancers are work-related, firefighters and fire investigators could get easier access to benefits and the support they need to recover. If approved, they would apply to full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters, firefighters employed by First Nation band councils, and fire investigators. We want Ontario to know that we have the backs of the brave men and women who protect and serve us daily.

I will conclude by calling for all in this House to support the Working for Workers Act, 2023. The measures we’ve outlined will position Ontario as a front-runner in charting the way forward as workplaces and how we work evolve. By giving workers a better deal, we are not only protecting them, but we are both keeping and attracting more workers to the province and ensuring our economy remains strong.

I hope all members of this House join me in supporting this bill. So please help us vote on Bill 79 as it comes forward.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Questions?

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the minister.

The minister started his remarks by boasting about the temporary and inadequate paid sick days program that his government was forced to introduce, but he has told the media that the program has filled its purpose and it is expiring at the end of the month.

The legislation that we have here today would have been a perfect opportunity to amend the Employment Standards Act and finally bring in a permanent paid sick days program, like they have in BC, to cover all Ontario workers not just for COVID, but for any other illness or infectious disease that means that they have to stay home from work. Why did the minister not include that in this bill today?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I’m proud that we were the first in the country to bring in job-protected leave to ensure that if there’s a worker out there who is sick, obviously, from COVID, staying home to look after a loved one, having mental health issues—it’s really a flexible job leave—that workers can’t be fired for that. We brought in paid sick days, which the member opposite supported. I think I referenced it; it was probably the fastest bill that ever passed in this chamber since I’ve been here. It has been very successful. Over half a million workers have accessed that, which is good—again, very flexible.

I guess what I don’t understand from the NDP is—I think of our past Working for Workers bills that brought in naloxone kits to workplaces, that improved labour mobility so unionized construction workers could come to Ontario, that brought in foundational rights for gig workers. You opposed those. Why?

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Further questions?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: I thank the minister for his presentation today, and the other members who presented today.

I’m very excited about this proposed legislation because it’s something that people in my riding of Essex have been asking for; I know it because I’ve heard their requests. I’m so proud that this legislation has been tabled, and I hope it will pass so that these great measures can be implemented.

My question to the minister is this: Who else is supporting this legislation?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: Great question.

The member from Essex is doing such a great job being a champion for folks in his riding, especially around the skilled trades. I’ve been with the member from Essex a number of times, meeting with building trade union leaders from the Windsor-Essex region who are doing a great job. They’re going to be building that new hospital down there, they’re working on the bridge, expanding Highway 3—the list goes on and on and on.

Those men and women who are wearing hard hats every day are heroes. I say that proudly, because for too long in this province, people looked down their noses at people in the skilled trades. They’re heroes. That’s why I’m proud that this government is the first in history to do an inspection blitz to clean up washrooms once and for all for construction workers and to get more women into the skilled trades.

He asked, “Who’s supporting this bill?” I want to pay tribute—and I will do this in the next question—to Joe Maloney, the former head of the international boilermakers union, who is supporting this bill. He now runs Helmets to Hardhats. I’ll speak about him shortly. Unfortunately, he is retiring, but he has gotten men and women who have served the country into the skilled trades.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Further questions?

Mr. Wayne Gates: The Minister of Labour said he won’t tolerate scumbag employers. What did he do to stop the employer who passed Bill 124 and Bill 28, which trampled on workers’ corrective bargaining rights, forced wage caps, working conditions on largely women-led sectors—the same employer that won’t end deeming for injured workers or won’t pass anti-scab legislation?

My question to the minister is pretty simple: What has the minister done to stop that scumbag employer?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I’m proud of the action that we’re taking. I think it’s despicable that there are employers out there that would take a passport or work permit from a migrant worker. It’s wrong on so many fronts. That’s why I’m proud that our government, in this legislation, is bringing forward hefty fines to ensure that these migrant workers get the protections they deserve. And not only are they going to be fined, they’re going to be put in jail.

Our government, 18 months ago, in our first Working for Workers Act, passed legislation to set up within the Ministry of Labour an anti-labour trafficking division—a special division—hired people to fill the roles, and I’m proud to say that they’re working every day to bring people to justice who abuse workers in this province.

We will work every day to ensure that the health and safety of every worker is protected.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Question?

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: I want to thank the Minister of Labour and his whole team for this incredible movement in terms of labour legislation. This is part of a huge series of changes that his team, with our government, is making.

One of the changes that is very vivid for my community—we have Base Borden, close to Barrie. When I speak to reservists—and of course, I speak to our local Legion in Belle Ewart—they talk about the mental health impacts of anyone in the Armed Forces.

So what is this bill doing to show respect and honour to not only our veterans, but everyone in the Canadian Armed Forces, and really move the labour pendulum for those workers?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: We’re doing this, first and foremost, because the men and women who serve in uniform—serving our country, serving all of us—deserve to have their jobs protected when they choose to leave work,

I do want to get back to my good friend Joe Maloney, who unfortunately is retiring from Helmets to Hardhats. He founded this organization. Joe was the former international vice-president of the boilermakers union, and he did a great job promoting boilermakers as a first career choice for many young people out there. Joe said, “Helmets to Hardhats welcomes the expansion of job-protected leave for military reservists. Reserve force members are a vital component of the Canadian Armed Forces but are also crucial in their civilian careers, including careers within the unionized construction industry.

Allowing additional job-protected leave will support retention in the military and the workforce while ensuring Canadian reservists can return to work safely and sustainably.”

Joe, on behalf of the province of Ontario, thank you for your work with the boilermakers’ union and being the founder of Helmets to Hardhats.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Question?

M. Guy Bourgouin: Je vois dans le projet de loi—on ne voit aucune allocution qu’ils vont retirer le projet de loi 124. Le ministre a utilisé le mots « scumbag employers ». Mais, les personnes qui sont assujetties à la loi 124, je peux vous dire qu’elles se posent seulement une question. La question qu’elles aimeraient qu’on pose au ministre : qu’allez-vous faire—pour utiliser encore vos paroles—des « scumbag employers » et pour retirer le projet de loi 124?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: We’re working for workers every single day. That’s why we’re bringing forward not just nation-leading changes to our labour laws to rebalance the skills, to help those everyday heroes out there, but a lot of the changes we’re doing haven’t been done across North America.

I think of what we’re going to do around portable benefits. There are millions of workers today in the province who don’t have health and dental benefits. We’re going to be the first in North America to bring in a portable benefits plan.

Speaker, I think of the support we have for this legislation. The head of the provincial building trades, who represents literally hundreds of thousands of unionized construction workers in this province, is supporting this legislation—to clean up washrooms on job sites, to create a washroom on a large site specifically for women, to ensure that there’s adequate lighting, to ensure that these washrooms that don’t have covers on them are banned in the province of Ontario.

For the life of me, I do not understand why the NDP are objecting to this legislation—it’s to help people. This should be a non-partisan issue. All of the changes we’re bringing are to improve the lives of workers in this province.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): The member from Newmarket–Aurora.

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: First off, I’d like to thank the minister for all his hard work, as well as the parliamentary assistants today for their speeches.

I’d like to give an example of something the minister mentioned today about encouraging women to join the skilled trades. In my community of Newmarket–Aurora—I spoke to this before in a member’s statement—we have a Blue Door enterprise called Construct. I spoke specifically with a young woman who started this program. She was on social assistance—

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Thank you to the member from Newmarket–Aurora.

A quick response.

Hon. Monte McNaughton: The member does a great job.

We’re going to clean up washrooms for every construction worker. There are 16,000 women and men today working on job sites in the province—we’re going to clean it up for them. They’re heroes in this province.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): It is now time for members’ statements.

Members’ Statements

World Water Day

Mrs. Robin Martin: Since 1993, March 22 has been observed by all UN member states as World Water Day.

Our province is blessed to be a world leader in fresh water with more than 250,000 lakes—roughly 20% of the world’s fresh water. The word “Ontario” itself is said to derive from portions of the Huron word for “great lake” and the Iroquois word for “beautiful water.” Our government has and will continue to protect Ontario’s waters.

For example, in 2020, Ontario partnered with Pollution Probe to collect plastic waste from the water at marinas around the province using innovative plastic capture technology.

In 2020-21, our government invested almost $11 million in more than 98 projects to help improve the health of the Great Lakes, including cleanup projects which prevented over 250,000 pieces of litter from entering Lake Ontario.

We enhanced Ontario’s water-taking program and issued new guidance on managing water-taking in areas where sustainability is a concern.

Additionally, the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program has invested $15 million to protect, restore and rehabilitate over 2,600 hectares of wetlands across Ontario.

The Great Lakes provide drinking water directly to 60% of Ontarians. Ontarian’s drinking water protection framework received an A rating from Ecojustice Canada’s drinking water report card as it implements “the most ambitious source water protection program in Canada,” with some of the strongest protections available.

On this day and every day, we will work to protect this great resource for future generations.

I invite all members and all Ontarians to raise a glass to toast Ontario’s fresh water. Happy World Water Day.

Attawapiskat First Nation

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: Today I’m here to speak about Attawapiskat First Nation and the disappointing neglect they have been facing with the government for over 30 years. I was just up in Attawapiskat last week with my staff to offer a clinic and to meet with chief and council. Chief Sylvia and the council are very discouraged, as were their predecessors. They have been asking for help to address their housing crisis and the development of their community for years. Multiple meetings and emails have been exchanged, with no advancement.

In 2014, a joint task force was established with Attawapiskat First Nation and both federal and provincial governments to address their requirements. In 2018, the joint task force established a memorandum of understanding to govern their meetings. In 2019, a renewed relationship commitment was signed to ensure the advancement of this working relationship—signed by the Honourable Minister Rickford, Minister O’Regan and Chief Ignace Gull. In 2023, here we are, in the same place, with no advancement and nothing to show other than an exchange of words.

The community is currently landlocked given its geographical disposition. There are only two ways for them to expand: option 1, remove the dispute on the road due to the De Beers mine; option 2, relocate the airport.

They’re offering solutions so that they can expand their community and address their issues, yet it’s falling on deaf ears.

They are facing a housing crisis, to the point where they do not have a single piece of land to expand their home and infrastructure on their traditional territory—quite ironic.

It is time to respect the—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

Members’ statements?

Burlington Teen Tour Band

Ms. Natalie Pierre: The Burlington Teen Tour Band is Canada’s oldest and largest youth marching band. For over 75 years, the band has been a symbol of pride for the city of Burlington. They are known for their high-energy performances and their ability to captivate audiences with their intricate formations and synchronized movements.

The Burlington Teen Tour Band has had the privilege of performing at some of the world’s most prestigious events, including the Rose Bowl parade, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbour.

Earlier this week, the band returned from their tour in Ireland, where they were in attendance for the St. Patrick’s Day parade and were named best band overall.

One of the things that sets the band apart is their dedication to excellence. The band spends countless hours perfecting their music and choreography. They are a tight-knit community of young people who share a passion for music and performance. Through their involvement in the band, these young musicians—my daughter was one of them—develop important life skills, such as discipline, teamwork and leadership. These skills will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

Cost of living

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: Constituents in my riding are struggling to make ends meet. More families are accessing food banks because the cost of food has skyrocketed. Many people are living in deep poverty. Seniors are cutting pills in half or skipping doses. They can’t afford their medication and rent or food.

We have a housing crisis in Windsor-Essex and across Ontario. Housing remains unaffordable and unattainable for many. Young people and families are unable to buy a home in the community they grew up in. The cost of rent has increased dramatically because rent control was scrapped by this government.

More people are experiencing homelessness, yet shelters in my community aren’t receiving the funding needed to provide supports. The Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families says that 61% of the individuals accessing supports are children and youth. The largest predictor of future shelter use is the children accessing those shelters now, yet this government gives no thought to young people and their future.

The people of Windsor West and across Ontario deserve a government that supports them and takes action to make life better for everyone, not just the wealthy friends and donors of the Conservatives. We need a budget that will bring relief for the rising cost of living.

The Conservatives want the people of Ontario to settle for less, to think that this is normal. We must demand better, because better is possible.

We can double social assistance rates to lift people out of poverty. We can build more affordable housing while protecting green space. We can protect workers’ rights and ensure that good-paying jobs are available to everyone.

Budgets are all about priorities. This upcoming budget is an opportunity for the Conservatives to prioritize the people of Ontario. Maybe they’ll—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

Brampton West Youth Council food drive

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: Giving back to the community and charity work is something that’s truly close to my heart.

Throughout the week of March break, my Brampton West Youth Council held a food drive.

As we all know, food is a basic necessity of life, and yet there are so many people in our community who struggle to put food on the table every day.

Fortunately, we have the power to make a difference. By donating non-perishable food items and volunteering our time, we can ensure that everyone in our community has access to healthy and nutritious meals. By coming together as a community, we can make a real difference in the lives of our neighbours.

Mr. Speaker, I’m so proud to have such wonderful volunteers as part of our team. Their willingness to help and their unwavering support has been instrumental in making this food drive a success.

I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredible efforts during our Brampton West food drive, and all of those who helped out either by donating or volunteering. Thank you for making such an impactful change in the community through your kind actions.

Indigenous consultation

M me France Gélinas: This morning, I was on the phone with Gimaa Craig Nootchtai, the Chief of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. His people’s traditional territories are home to almost all of the mines in Nickel Belt—mines that play a big role in this government’s upcoming budget.

Gimaa Nootchtai and his council were invited to an information session on Bill 71, the Building More Mines Act. They put in a lot of time and effort preparing for this information session, as Bill 71 will have multi-generational implications for their people. Gimaa Nootchtai and his team were shocked when the government declared after the start of the information session that this virtual meeting would satisfy the government’s duty to consult First Nations on Bill 71.

Gimaa Nootchtai said, “I told them that ‘consultation’ should have started when the proposed changes were first conceptualized so that we could truly participate in drafting legislation that directly affects our lands and rights.” I agree, Speaker.

This government has a duty to consult First Nations. Why are they not taking this responsibility more seriously? Why is it that this government seems bound and determined to continue to treat First Nations with such disrespect? This has to change.

When will this government consult Atikameksheng Anishnawbek on the changes to the Mining Act?

Semaine de la Francophonie

M. Stéphane Sarrazin: Je veux profiter encore une fois de l’occasion pour souhaiter une joyeuse Semaine internationale de la Francophonie, non seulement aux Franco-Ontariens mais à tous les francophones à travers la planète.

Merci à la ministre des Affaires francophone, son adjointe parlementaire et son équipe pour avoir organisé une rencontre lundi ici même à Queen’s Park. Ça a été une belle occasion de rencontrer des représentants de plusieurs organismes francophones de différents secteurs et de différentes régions de notre belle province. Merci à mes collègues députés et leurs adjoints qui font

partie d’un groupe de nombreux d’Ontariens qu’on appelle des francophiles. Je suis très reconnaissant pour leur participation à cet évènement.

Vous savez, monsieur le Président, il y a beaucoup d’activités cette semaine par rapport à la francophonie. Hier encore, j’ai pris part à la cérémonie de l’Ordre de la Pléiade dans la suite de la lieutenante-gouverneure ici même à Queen’s Park pour reconnaître des personnes exceptionnelles qui ont grandement contribué à la francophonie de notre province. Vous avez vous-même, monsieur le Président, eu la chance de recevoir ces invités : M. Donald Lemaire de Hearst, M me Claire Forcier de Hearst, M. Denis Chartrand d’Ottawa, M e Mark Power d’Ottawa, M me Lauraine Côté de Mississauga et M me Ursule Leboeuf de Pointe-aux-Roches.

Je tiens à réitérer mes sincères félicitations aux récipiendaires pour leurs contributions exceptionnelles aux communautés francophones de l’Ontario et à l’ensemble de la province. Leur travail acharné et leur dévouement ont eu un impact significatif et durable sur la vie de nombreuses personnes.

Flooding

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Imagine waking up to the sound of cracking thunder and pouring rain in the middle of the night. You just can’t sleep, so you tiptoe downstairs to the basement to watch some television. Here, you are met with ankle-deep water and maybe even sewage soaking your freshly carpeted floors. This comes as a complete shock. You don’t live near any flood plains, rivers or streams, so you never expected a flood in your home. Why would you? You try your best to subdue the damage by using towels and sandbags, but there is nothing you can do besides wait for the downpour to be over.

You sit and watch your possessions decay and await the $43,000 price tag to clean up your basement.

Basement flooding is not normal, but it is common. All of this could potentially have been averted if Bill 56 was law. It’s time for proactive solutions, not reactive measures.

Flooding is the most common disaster in Canada, and it now costs Canadians more than any other natural disaster.

Bill 56 will save your constituents and you from unnecessary hardships—financially and physically and mentally. I know this issue is close to home for many of you, as you have shared your basement flooding stories with me personally. By implementing this bill, money can be saved and headaches can be avoided. Ontarians—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. Members’ statements?

Tatum Hutchinson / Taylar McCallum

Mr. Dave Smith: Today, I want to sing the praises of two young ladies from my riding. On March 5, Tatum Hutchison and Taylar McCallum won the Ontario youth bowling championship. They will be headed off to Regina in May for the Canadian championships. These young ladies are only 10 years old. They’re the youngest bowlers from Peterborough to win an Ontario championship. Both Tatum and Taylar started bowling around the age of four or five.

For Taylar, this must be in her genes, because she’s following in her father’s footsteps, who is also a former provincial champion.

The girls have been bowling together for the last five years and have become great friends and partners. They attribute their success to collaboration, friendship and the ability to not put too much pressure on themselves or one another. That’s a recipe for success that we can all learn from.

Every Wednesday, they come down to Lakeview Bowl to practise.

I know they’re excited to represent not only Peterborough but all of Ontario.

I truly don’t want to put too much pressure on them, but Taylar and Tatum, I know I speak for everyone in Ontario when I say this: We are very proud of you, and we believe in you. No matter what happens in Regina, you are champions. From not only me but everyone here in the Legislature, good luck.

Events in Richmond Hill

Mrs. Daisy Wai: I rise today to appreciate the rich diversity of our Richmond Hill community. From celebrating the winter carnival to observing Nowruz and Ramadan, our community comes together to honour our inclusiveness.

I want to acknowledge the Richmond Hill Winter Carnival that took place on February 4. Despite the frigid weather, our residents came together to celebrate this winter tradition and have fun. This is the tradition that residents in Richmond Hill have been celebrating for 54 years.

Last week, I joined the Iranian community for various celebrations. I was happy to join Minister Parsa, Mayor Tom Mrakas and guests to celebrate the second anniversary of Bill 271 to recognize Persian Heritage Month. I also attended the ICTC Youth Foundation Nowruz event.

Today marks the beginning of Ramadan. May I wish the Muslim communities in Richmond Hill and across Ontario the very best during this time of spiritual strength and personal reflection.

Let us continue to embrace our diversity and work towards a brighter Ontario.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Todd Smith: Thank you, Speaker. I recognize you too. It’s good to see you this morning.

I would like to welcome a couple of dear friends of mine from Riverview, New Brunswick, my hometown. Believe it or not, I was the best man at their wedding a long, long time ago, when I was a younger, slimmer, more handsome man than I am today, if you can imagine that. I’d really like to welcome Peter and Heidi Foster.

Ms. Marit Stiles: There’s a person who sits here almost every day in the members’ gallery, and his name is Michau van Speyk. It is his 28th birthday today. I want to wish him a happy birthday.

Mr. Robert Bailey: It’s a great privilege today, Mr. Speaker, to introduce to you and to all the members of the Legislature—as parliamentary assistant to the Solicitor General, I’d like to introduce Chief Kai Liu, chief of the Treaty Three Police Service, and his wife, Heidi, who are joining us in the members’ gallery today.

Thank you for joining us. Welcome to Queen’s Park. Thank you for all the great work you do for this province.

Ms. Laura Smith: I had the honour and privilege of welcoming the people from the JIAS Toronto LINC school of York region. They will be in the chamber very shortly, but I wanted to make sure that they knew that they were welcome. They’re an amazing organization that has been working very hard for the people of not only York region but Toronto as well. Welcome to them.

MPP Lise Vaugeois: I would like to welcome Travis McDougall, from Truckers for Safer Highways, who is joining us today.

Welcome to your House, Travis.

Independent members

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand the member for Ottawa–Vanier has a point of order.

M me Lucille Collard: I do, Mr. Speaker, and I thank you for your attention and your indulgence.

I am seeking the unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding standing order 100(a)(iv), the independent members be permitted to share the five minutes allotted to a single member for the debate on private member’s notice of motion number 34, standing in the name of the member for London–Fanshawe.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Ottawa–Vanier is seeking the unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding standing order 100(a)(iv), the independent members be permitted to share the five minutes allotted to a single member for the debate on private member’s motion number 34, standing in the name of the member for London–Fanshawe. Agreed? Agreed.

Question Period

Land use planning

Ms. Marit Stiles: Yesterday we learned that the federal government is going to heed the call of our party, of environmental groups and of so many concerned Ontarians and intervene to protect the greenbelt. The federal minister cited the danger posed to species at risk and to our country’s only national urban park as they announced a new study on the impacts of paving over the greenbelt.

There is growing public opposition to this land grab, there’s an ongoing ethics inquiry, and there are new federal interventions.

So will the Premier finally stop his attack on our greenbelt?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I can say this: The provincial government, this government, is steadfast in its commitment to continue to build houses for the people of the province of Ontario. The federal government can either assist us in this motion or they can simply get out of the way. We have made it very clear since 2018 that we needed to build more houses in the province of Ontario. It has also been very clear that the opposition is against this.

What we’re seeing in Ontario is hope and optimism returning to this province for the first time in a long time, Mr. Speaker. Do you know why? Because we’re bringing more jobs back to the province of Ontario. We have more jobs than people to fill those jobs, and we’re asking for over 300,000 people to come to Ontario to help us build a more prosperous Ontario. And do you know what they need? They want to have a home. So we will continue to do that. And I can’t say it more clearly: The federal government and the opposition can either work with us or they can get out of the way so that we can continue to build a better Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, the government House leader was there when Rouge Park was created. Now he’s willing to put it all at risk so a few friends of the Premier can make a quick buck. That is so disappointing.

Back to the Premier: Parks Canada said the government’s greenbelt carve-up is going to cause irreversible harm to wildlife. The federal government says the risks are real. This government muzzled the Greenbelt Council. It’s becoming increasingly clear that consultation did not happen—not at all.

So my question to the Premier is, beyond the guests at his family function, who did he consult on the impacts of his greenbelt carve-up?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is quite correct: I was there when the Rouge National Urban Park was being created because the Rouge National Urban Park, for the most part, is in my riding. What we did at the time was, we took 5,000 acres of land that was scheduled to be part of the Toronto airport and we returned it to farmers and gave them long-term, 100-year leases. Do you know who was against that, colleagues? Do you know who voted against the Rouge National Urban Park?

It was the federal NDP, it was the federal Green Party, and it was the federal Liberals, including this Prime Minister. Do you know why? Because they wanted to kick farmers off that land and reforest that land. But it was a Stephen Harper Conservative government that said no. And do you know what? It was a Progressive Conservative government, under Mike Harris, that protected that area in the first place. And they voted against it.

So I say very clearly to the leader of His Majesty’s opposition: Either work with us to build new housing or get out of the way.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. The House will come to order.

Start the clock.

Final supplementary.

Ms. Marit Stiles: I can tell you, Speaker, we’re not going to get out of the way. We’re going to stand up for the greenbelt. We’re going to stand up for the people across this province who care about farmland, about our green land.

Ontarians know that this government’s greenbelt grab has nothing at all to do with housing. They are not convinced by any of this. It has everything to do with a handful of very well-connected insiders making a lot of money.

Speaker, the reality is, this government’s plan won’t build a single new unit of affordable housing.

If this government truly cared about making sure that Ontarians had good places to call home, they’d be ending exclusionary zoning and investing to build non-profit, co-op and supportive housing.

My question to the Premier is, instead of bulldozing the greenbelt, will you invest in truly affordable housing on the land we already have?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats.

To reply, the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I don’t think it’s any surprise to anybody on this side of the House that the Leader of the Opposition has suggested that they will continue to be in the way of building more houses for the people of the province of Ontario, because that is at the core of who the NDP are now. They get in the way of everything. They get in the way of building more homes. They get in the way of building a better, stronger Ontario. They get in the way of opening up the Ring of Fire so that we can have more jobs in the north. They get in the way of building more electric vehicle plants.

They get in the way of transit and transportation, including the biggest investment in subways in the history of this province. They get in the way of building more roads so that we can get our products to market. They get in the way of the Minister of Energy, who wants the cleanest grid to the world—the SMR, the small modular reactor. They get in the way of that. They get in the way of everything the Minister of Education is doing to make our students the best students in the world, everything that the Minister of Colleges and Universities has done, everything that the Minister of Labour has done.

But do you know what? We clear all of that with the minister of red tape, and we build a better Ontario—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The next question.

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: I think it’s fair to say that this government and this Premier have been under a cloud of suspicion—lucrative patronage appointments doled out to Conservative donors, cozy relationships with developers who stand to gain from carving up the greenbelt, a revolving door of lobbyists from ministers’ offices. And while ordinary Ontarians are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and put food on the table or get the health care they deserve, this government is doling out gifts to everyone that they know.

My question is to the Premier: Are the interests of regular people in this province taking a back seat to the interests of their friends and donors?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Listen to the question of the Leader of the Opposition. She just stated that she wants to get in the way of having new homes for the people of the province of Ontario. There are the next generation of Ontarians who just want the same thing that all of us have. They want to have the opportunity to have their first home. That is why people have come to this province for so many generations. But the NDP want to stand in the way of that. They want to stand in the way of the incredible work that the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade has done to bring thousands of jobs back to the province of Ontario.

So what are we doing? We are building a bigger, better, stronger province of Ontario, and we are doing it by working together across government to make sure that that happens for the people of the province of Ontario. And they’re seeing the results, Mr. Speaker. Paycheques are getting better. It is getting easier to do business in the province of Ontario. Do you know who else is seeing the results? The billions of dollars of companies that are flocking to the province of Ontario to join with us in building a better, stronger—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, that’s all very interesting, because just yesterday, it was revealed that insiders with connections to private health care companies have donated at least $35,000 to the Conservatives since the 2018 election. Donations from private clinic owners, from developers looking to build private hospitals—curious, given this government’s recent choice to start funneling public money towards private health facilities.

Again, to the Premier—I’d appreciate a real answer: Doesn’t the government realize how this looks? How do you explain it?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): A reminder to members to make their comments through the Chair.

Government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Speaker, I don’t know who’s writing these questions for the Leader of the Opposition.

What are we doing in health care? We are spending billions of dollars in every part of this province to build a bigger, better, stronger health care system. We’re building massive amounts of investment in Niagara—and not only in new hospitals. We looked at their small hospitals and we decided that we have to do a better job of funding their small and medium hospitals. So we’re doing that—the largest investment in hospitals in Ottawa. We’re doing that in long-term care. We work with the Minister of Colleges and Universities to make sure that we have the staff to support all of this massive investment.

And hey, go figure, we want to do things differently so that the people of the province can have a better health care system going forward. But do you know who’s standing in the way of that? It’s the Leader of the Opposition, because they’re stuck in the 1940s. I thought Dr. Horwath was bad enough, but now we have Dr. Stiles, who knows everything. But despite it, we’ll get the job done—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

I’ll remind the members to refer to each other by their riding names or their ministerial title, as applicable.

Start the clock.

The final supplementary.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, the timing is curious too, because some insiders were making donations to the Conservative Party at the same time they were lobbying this government to privatize health care. In fact, one donor made a very significant contribution to the Conservative Party just two days after their private company received a lucrative licence to do 5,000 cataract surgeries. Another started donating to the Conservatives just last year, and now, suddenly, his company—guess what?—stands to benefit from privatized health care imaging.

To the Premier: Ontarians want to know, is this a return to cash for access in Ontario? Is this how we get it done in Ontario again, under the Conservative government?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to caution the Leader of the Opposition on her use of language.

The government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Do you know how we get it done in the province of Ontario? First, what we do is, we make sure we put policies forward, and the people of the province of Ontario elect a Progressive Conservative government to get the job done. And then we look and we say, “How can we improve Ontario?” We say the first thing we’ve got to do is get rid of the red tape regulation that was killing this province. We did.

Then we said we have to stabilize our energy sector. We did it.

We have to reinvest in infrastructure. We are doing it.

We have to reinvest in our health care system to build better communities. We’re doing it.

Do you know who votes against it all the time? It’s the Leader of the Opposition and that party.

Imagine a Leader of the Opposition, an NDP party, trying to suggest that they hold the high bar in ethics. I wonder how Kevin Yarde feels about that high bar on ethics—who was drummed out of the party because of that. This is a party that elected a leader because nobody else wanted to get into the race—but now we’re finding out that there was never going to be a race because the decks were cleared.

Speaker, through you: Will the Premier commit to meeting with the alliance and immediately work to fully implement the AODA?

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Thanks to the member opposite for this important question.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

MPP Lise Vaugeois: I hope there will actually be a date, then, made with the AODA Alliance as soon as possible.

Each five-year review has expressed grave concerns about the lack of progress implementing the AODA. The third review in 2019 by the late Honourable David Onley called the experience of Ontarians with disabilities “soul-crushing.” And the current review says, “Due to 17 years of inaction, any excuse to delay is laughable and wildly insulting.”

Speaker, will the Premier tell the three million Ontarians with a disability what he’s doing to ensure Ontario is fully accessible by the target year of 2025?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’d ask members to please take their seats.

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Thank you to the honourable member for that question.

When David Onley gave me his report on the AODA, he told me, “Raymond, the number one thing you can do to create a more accessible Ontario is to help people with disabilities get meaningful jobs.”

I want to thank my good friend the Minister of Labour for the investment into the Skills Development Fund. We are making sure that people with disabilities have the right programs, services and training to find meaningful jobs.

Fiscal and economic policy

Mr. Graham McGregor: I want to ask the government House leader a question after that clinic he put on this morning, but my constituents want me to ask a question of the Minister of Finance.

Speaker, as global events, high interest rates and ongoing supply chain issues contribute to worldwide economic uncertainty, we’re experiencing the effects here in Ontario. While Canada’s inflation rate is easing, it’s still stubbornly high, and we know that people are struggling. We remain in a time of elevated inflation that is straining household budgets by driving up prices on everyday goods and services.

People across Ontario are looking to our government to put forward measures that will provide them with direct help and support.

Can the minister please explain how our government is working on behalf of Ontarians during these uncertain economic times?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, the parliamentary assistant.

Mr. Rick Byers: Thank you to the hard-working and amazing member from Brampton North for that question.

We all know that these are challenging economic times. As we navigate this uncertainty, one thing I have absolute confidence in is the resilience of Ontario’s workers, businesses, families and its people. Ontario has proven time and again that together we can overcome any obstacle that’s in our way.

And our government has a responsible plan. Our plan to build Ontario is supporting families, workers and businesses while laying a strong fiscal foundation for the future. We are continuing to take a targeted approach after unprecedented investments in response to the pandemic. Now is the time for our government to be prudent and responsible while investing in the priorities for today and planning for the future.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Graham McGregor: Thank you to the parliamentary assistant for that excellent response. It was so good that I’ve got another question for him.

It’s reassuring that our government is focusing on actions and investments that will support individuals, families, seniors and businesses.

Because of the reckless policies of the previous Liberal government, supported by the NDP, Ontario’s fiscal position was severely weakened.

That’s why it is necessary for our government to continue with forward-looking and solution-oriented approaches to successfully navigate our province through this period of economic uncertainty.

With Ontario’s growing population, diverse workforce and an abundance of natural resources, we are well positioned in many areas for continued economic growth and prosperity.

Can the parliamentary assistant please explain the priorities of our government’s economic vision for Ontarians?

Mr. Rick Byers: Thank you for that fantastic question from a fantastic member.

What I can say is, over the past couple of years, Ontario and the rest of the world faced a once-in-a-generation challenge unlike any in our lifetimes.

We have a strong plan for Ontario. By being fiscally prudent and responsible, we can overcome any challenge that comes our way. That’s why I will be proud to be in this chamber tomorrow, when the minister tables the 2023 budget. Ontario’s Plan to Build is a responsible, targeted approach to help people and businesses. This is a long-term economic vision. We are making the investments that we need today while laying a strong fiscal foundation for future generations.

Water quality

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Today is World Water Day. Access to clean water is a basic human right.

Children like four-year-old Kayde from North Caribou Lake First Nation face serious medical issues and even have to be medevaced out to a hospital to treat their skin conditions.

Premier, will Ontario commit to studying the long-term health effects of boil-water advisories to help children like Kayde?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Hon. David Piccini: Thank you to the member for that important question on World Water Day.

Speaker, our government is proud of our record in keeping Ontario’s drinking water safe for all Ontarians. We have comprehensive legislation and a regulatory framework, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, the Health Protection and Promotion Act. We know water on reserves does not fall under that; it falls under federal legislation. Having said that, that’s not good enough. We’re working with the federal government and with Indigenous communities.

It was this government that, for the first time ever, in the mandate of Walkerton and the Ontario Clean Water Agency, included a mandate to engage with Indigenous communities. I’m pleased to say members of the Ontario Clean Water Agency and Walkerton have been in a number of Indigenous communities on a 24/7 basis, working with Indigenous water operators and the federal government, because it’s not good enough—as previous governments, supported by the NDP—to just pass the buck.

We’re leaning in, working with Indigenous communities.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Not everyone has access to clean drinking water. Everyone here—all you do is snap your fingers if you want clean drinking water.

And you cannot use jurisdiction as an excuse to not do anything.

Recently, Indigenous health researcher Jeffrey Ansloos found a correlation between drinking water advisories and suicides in First Nations. Ontario has the highest rate of long-term drinking water advisories and one of the highest rates of suicide in First Nations in Canada. We live it in Kiiwetinoong.

What is Ontario doing to protect First Nations youth from the serious effects associated with lack of access to clean drinking water?

Hon. David Piccini: Again, I appreciate the question from the member opposite. I don’t think they heard when I said we’re not passing the buck, as previous governments have done, supported by the NDP 99% of the time.

The member asked what we’re doing.

If we’re going to be intellectually honest with ourselves on the challenge—a lot of it stems from lack of training for water operation.

We know the federal government—this was Indigenous communities that said to the federal government, “Pay us a fair wage.” We supported them.

What has Ontario done? Well, as of June 2022, 168 operators and 116 managers or supervisors have been trained at no cost to Indigenous communities. This was never done by the previous Liberal government. Our government is standing up, working at no cost to these Indigenous communities, and we’re going to work together with them. If the member opposite has any specific communities he feels are not benefiting from that training, let me know and we’ll make sure we have water operators there to work with them.

Employment standards

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: My question is for the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

The commitment by the Premier and this minister to advance protection for workers has been continuously demonstrated with measures that support them and help to build Ontario for the next generation.

Across our province, thousands of brave men and women are military reservists with the Canadian Armed Forces. These individuals go above and beyond their regular jobs and normal workday to selflessly answer the call of duty in service of our country, both at home and abroad. Reservists should not face an uncertain future when they return to their civilian jobs after deployment.

Can the minister please explain what our government is doing to support our military reservists?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I want to thank the MPP from Mississauga–Erin Mills for this really important question.

Speaker, our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, is standing with our military reservists and their families. On Monday, I introduced our third Working for Workers Act. This bill creates a new job-protected leave for military heroes who need time to recover from physical injuries or mental trauma. Anyone who is willing to drop everything to help their neighbours should be rewarded and not punished. They deserve the peace of mind that their civilian jobs will be waiting for them when they are ready to come back to them. I’m proud that our reservist leave will be the most flexible and comprehensive in the country.

Our government is going to continue working for the workers of Ontario.

I look forward to answering more in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: Thanks to the minister for that response.

Since day one, our government has been working for workers, and it is continuing to lead the country with groundbreaking protections.

It is a fact that the way people work has changed. The dynamic has shifted from in-office work to other formats. In 2022, 1.4 million people in Ontario were working remotely, and 800,000 were working hybrid jobs.

Workers also need greater certainty, when starting a new job, that they have been given information about the nature of their job before they start their first shift.

It is vital that regulations and employment standards keep up with the new reality.

Can the minister please explain how our government is ensuring that our labour laws reflect the changing world of work?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I want to thank the member for Mississauga–Erin Mills for this question and his leadership in standing up for workers in his riding.

Speaker, remote workers who don’t have a desk in the office are just as valuable to our economy, and they shouldn’t be treated as second-class workers. That is why our government is changing our employment standards laws to ensure they receive the same enhanced severance payments during mass layoffs as their in-office colleagues.

We also know that asking your boss questions on day one of a new job can be daunting, especially for young workers, newcomers and those in precarious roles. To protect their workers, we’re requiring that employers provide them with basic information on their role and how much they’ll be paid before they actually start their first shift.

Under the leadership of our Premier and our government, we are rebalancing the scales and putting workers in the driver’s seat of Ontario’s economic recovery.

Environmental protection

Ms. Sandy Shaw: My question this morning is for the Premier.

Today is World Water Day.

The UN just released a frightening warning that without urgent climate action, we risk leaving our children with a world that faces extreme weather events and regular flooding. But instead of urgent action, your government is making things much, much worse by unilaterally steamrolling the greenbelt and destroying important wetlands that prevent flooding.

My question, Premier: We already know that your government is working to protect developers, but why won’t you honour treaty obligations and future generations of Ontarians by protecting our water?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Hon. David Piccini: I appreciate the question from the member opposite.

It’s important that Ontarians know that we’re very blessed to live in this province that has such robust standards for water—the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

It’s unfortunate that the member opposite is choosing to politicize water rather than work with this government to make investments that protect water.

That’s why, as a government, as I mentioned in the previous answer, we’ve worked at no charge to train water operators—dealing with systemic challenges in training for water operators—in Indigenous communities. That’s why we’re working with rural municipalities, the Ontario Clean Water Agency, and dealing with staff and retention challenges there. That’s why we’re investing in the modern and critical infrastructure.

That member said “urgent action”—that’s why we’ve required updated monitoring and reporting in her own community, to ensure that we’re protecting water for generations to come and investing in the modern infrastructure to support those growing communities.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: It’s really unfortunate to hear the Minister of the Environment call, when we raise issues about boil-water advisories and the climate crisis—calling that politicization is just foolhardy.

This government has no credible climate plan—none whatsoever—and obviously no clear provincial water strategy. This is the government that fired scientists, muzzled the Greenbelt Council, and kneecapped conservation authorities in their important work to protect our watersheds—watersheds that clean our water, protect endangered species and allow bodies of water to remain in the earth and not in our basements.

Back to the Premier: In the spirit of World Water Day, what will you do today to protect the greenbelt and its watershed for our future generations of young people?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Hon. Graydon Smith: This government is doing more around wetlands than any government has done previously.

Speaker, the previous government, backed up by the opposition, presided over the loss of wetlands in Ontario—tens of thousands of hectares gone.

This government has a different approach. This government has an approach where we want to expand wetlands in Ontario, expand natural features in Ontario. We are going to do that. The previous government could not do it, would not do it. The opposition continues to talk a game that they can’t back up. We’re doing it. We’re getting it done. We’re protecting wetlands in Ontario.

Arts and cultural funding / Subventions pour les arts et la culture

M me Lucille Collard: I have a question for the Premier.

The arts industry plays an important role in our everyday life, whether we realize it or not. All those moments we’re not working, we’re somehow consuming art, and it improves our well-being and the economy.

We know that the arts industry has suffered incredibly during the pandemic, and it’s still struggling to recover. Just because we are in a post-pandemic economy doesn’t mean our artists don’t need our support anymore. The current high inflation makes it particularly difficult for artists to continue their work, let alone expand.

With the new budget coming out, people have been reaching out to express their concerns about proposed cuts. They’ve been writing to the Minister of Finance and also to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, so they know about it.

How is it reasonable to encourage our youth to get educated and follow their dreams while cutting funding in venues they could earn a living with?

Will this government ensure the survival of creative industries and support the artists who drive them?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Hon. Neil Lumsden: Thank you very much for the question. I appreciate it, and it’s timely.

I will express a couple of thoughts afterwards, but I’ll get to the point and cut to the chase: The Ontario Arts Council funding is being maintained at the current levels for the upcoming year. So worrying about cuts, at this point, isn’t what we are talking about. We’re talking about and working with people to take advantage of what they have, what they will continue to have, and the impact they will have on our communities.

The arts are cherished by this ministry and this government. It extends into tourism, certainly culture, and makes a huge impact on all demographics—from kids in schools, to be able to go out and experience art, to experience the artists who are delivering it. And we understand from a cultural piece, it has played a huge role in Ontario’s growth. Billions and billions of dollars are spent in tourism—and because of the arts, will get even stronger.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

M me Lucille Collard: The funding in Ontario has stayed the same over the last few years, while BC and Quebec have seen significant increases, so maybe we should take note.

Les coupures envisagées—ou le même budget, qui ne sera pas suffisant—aux individus et associations impliqués dans le secteur des arts, seraient particulièrement inquiétantes pour les communautés francophones de l’Ontario, qui dépendent du financement des arts pour promouvoir et préserver notre langue et culture.

Nous avons fait des progrès dans la francophonie. Nous devons continuer de protéger et d’étendre notre culture francophone. Sans le financement nécessaire, nous allons faire face à un recul.

Est-ce que le gouvernement s’engage à assurer la vitalité de la culture francophone et la viabilité du milieu culturel en maintenant le financement dans le domaine des arts de l’Ontario?

Hon. Neil Lumsden: Thank you again for the question.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll go back a little bit in time: Since 2018, we have invested over $1.1 billion in arts, culture through the ministry program and agencies. This includes nearly $340 million for the OAC.

In the OAC, we address all art; we don’t single things out specifically. Francophone art—that world is very important to us, and we’ve addressed it. We talk in terms, with respect to our government, of supporting all, not just defining one—the impact within tourism, as I said earlier; the cultural piece; what it does to communities and helps build in communities; the people within those communities who not only actually participate in the arts and the delivery of it, but those who enjoy it and support it and drive the revenue and build communities.

Building communities is a part of what we do and what we focus on, and the culture in our sector is very important and will continue to be important to this government.

Northern Ontario development

Mr. Ross Romano: My question is for the Minister of Northern Development.

Under the previous Liberal government, workers in northern, rural and remote communities felt abandoned. Manufacturing plants closed, jobs were destroyed, and the local economy in many communities—my own included—was devastated. Year after year, the Liberals and the NDP chose to focus on urban issues instead of listening to the needs and concerns that are important to the people across northern Ontario.

Communities across the north are counting on our government to promote economic and community development. The north is ripe with opportunities for creating employment, as well as promoting economic and community development and modernizing business operations. It’s not just a beautiful place with beautiful and amazing people.

Can the minister please explain how our government is investing in Ontario’s northern communities to promote opportunities for good-paying jobs?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I want to thank the member from Sault St. Marie. He does a fantastic job in that city, making sure that industry in Sault St. Marie is on the cutting edge—that’s exactly what these kinds of announcements are focused on.

The computer numerical control lathe is like no other. Its accuracy and timing consumption factor—it sounds kind of technical, but basically it allows them to do more work on larger-scale projects, including building much-needed locomotive trains, putting northern Ontario into a sector more actively than it has ever been. This is the kind of technology that isn’t just protecting jobs; it’s creating new, high-tech jobs in the manufacturing sector in northern Ontario—that walked out the door under the previous government.

We’re back. We’ve got a great member from Sault St. Marie who is protecting and creating jobs in his city, and we couldn’t be more pleased to support him.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Ross Romano: Thank you again, Minister, for that wonderful response. It is welcome news to hear that our government is focused on supporting the north and investing in communities like mine, in Sault St. Marie.

Mr. Speaker, let me say, through you to this House: Our government has been so incredibly committed to communities like mine across the north. Just in my own community—I can say the minister has been in my riding I can’t even count how many times; the Premier has been to the riding I can’t even count how many times. It’s such a welcome thing for our community to see these investments and the real attention that this government is putting in our community and throughout northern Ontario—unlike the previous Liberal government—because our government is optimistic and it does recognize that funding is very, very critical to contributing to building our local and regional economies.

Can the minister please explain how investments by our government will continue to help businesses in my riding to prosper?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I just had a chance to speak about SIS Manufacturing and what a busy business quarter we had at the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, targeting investments in Sault St. Marie—because it flows from things like a new electric arc furnace, new capacities at Tenaris to build state-of-the-art pipeline networks for our country and parts beyond.

We also supported a company called Apex Cranes. Apex Cranes was able to leverage our investment to purchase an Alliance 38M concrete pumper truck. This will provide new vertical and horizontal reach for larger-scale construction projects. That’s twice I’ve said that about Sault St. Marie—larger-scale construction projects.

As it repositions itself to be a world-class steel manufacturer and centre of mining processing, we’re making sure Sault St. Marie is in the best position possible to realize its optimal value.

Child care

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: My question is to the Premier.

While families across the province are waiting for $10-a-day child care, this government’s low-wage policies threaten the program. Already, child care centres across Ontario are having to close rooms and limit enrolment due to staffing challenges. Families are on wait-lists that are growing.

Experts have said that Ontario needs another 65,000 ECEs and child care staff by 2026.

The Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario has urged this government to implement a province-wide salary scale for registered ECEs and child care staff to address staffing issues. Why is the government refusing to do so?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: We signed a deal with the federal government that is now delivering a 50% reduction in fees for families in this province—$8,000 to $12,000 per child for every child they have in a child care centre. That is a huge achievement and step forward. We also committed to build 86,000 spaces in the province to meet the growing needs of child care. Mr. Speaker, 46,000 spaces have been created to date. We also agree that we need more staff as we grow demand and reduce fees and increase access to an affordable child care system for working parents in this province.

It’s why we increased wages each and every year of this agreement by $1 per hour, with a floor now imposed in the sector.

We know there’s more to do. It’s why the government launched a workforce consultation with those stakeholders and many others.

I will note the irony of New Democrats, who advocate for affordability but who would have excluded 70,000 for-profit families who depend on access in this province. We’ll stand up for all of them.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: We are losing more child care educators than we can train, and this government has not done much beyond committing to expanding training opportunities.

The average ECE in Ontario spends just three years working in the sector. Ontario will not be able to offer $10-a-day child care without child care workers.

The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care says that none of the strategies the government has put on the table will work until we deal with the low wages.

Will the minister listen to the experts and take action to address the staffing shortage by paying child care workers fair wages?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: First of all, for all ECEs working within our schools, just in the CUPE deal alone, they’re eligible for over 4% increases each and every year for the next four years. That’s a huge advantage. Mr. Speaker, 31,000 spaces, under our government, were created within our publicly funded school system, so a significant amount of the ECEs the member opposite speaks about are benefiting from wage enhancements with the fair deal we signed with CUPE. For the rest of the sector, we launched a consultation with the aim of incentivizing those workers to stay.

It’s why, in the deal with the feds, we announced a $1-per-hour increase each and every year. We created a minimum, a floor, that didn’t exist in the sector, raising wages for those who were on the lower end of that scale.

We’re going to continue to step up to support the workers, but most especially the families who now can afford child care—a 50% reduction, an $8,000 to $12,000 reduction per child. That’s going to make a big difference as we save families money in this tough economy.

Women’s employment

Ms. Patrice Barnes: My question is for the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.

Over the next six years, Ontario’s construction sector will need to hire 72,000 additional workers due to retirements and expected job growth. However, the reality is that women remain under-represented in this growing sector. Unfortunately, as in so many areas, barriers are preventing women from achieving their full potential in the skilled trades. Some of these obstacles include PPE and other equipment that is not tailored to women. For women to safely and effectively perform their jobs, they must be properly outfitted in uniforms, boots and safety harnesses.

Can the associate minister please explain how our government is making workplaces safer for women?

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: Thank you to the PA of education, especially for their work on seeing high school students take courses in technological classes. It’s such an important advancement, especially for the young girls who are going to be leaders in the trades.

Mr. Speaker, I’m proud to be a part of a government that believes that women become economically empowered when they have the resources they need to be successful.

Part of women’s safety and productivity in the workforce is ensuring that they have proper personal protective equipment. Currently, the standard for PPE excludes women’s body types, which can compromise the effectiveness of the protective equipment and have unsafe consequences.

Last week, the Minister of Labour and I announced systemic changes that will protect women in the trades. The Working for Workers legislation makes clear the requirement that PPE and clothing be properly fitted to workers with diverse body types. Workplaces that are safer and more equitable help increase women’s participation in the workforce, and these changes are going to—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. The supplementary question?

Ms. Patrice Barnes: Thank you to the associate minister for that response.

In Ontario, there are 500,000 construction workers; just a small percentage of those are women. Unfortunately, for women who work in the skilled trades, they’re frequently exposed to a lack of or poorly maintained washroom facilities at their work sites. This is unacceptable, and it is a deterrent for women wanting to take up careers in the skilled trades. It’s very important that women are provided with the supports they need to work safely and comfortably. In this instance, it’s ensuring that washrooms for female workers on job sites are adhering to equitable workplace health and safety standards.

Can the associate minister please elaborate on what measures our government is implementing that will ensure safety and equity for female workers?

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: Thank you again to the member from Ajax for the question.

I’ve travelled across Ontario listening to women’s stories, and I have learned of women’s washrooms being inaccessible for female staff. This is unacceptable, especially because only one in 10 construction workers in Ontario are women. If we want to attract more women to these well-paying and rewarding careers, we need to make sure our job sites are safer and equipped with appropriate resources.

Ontario is proposing to require women-only washrooms on construction sites. We’re also improving washrooms by requiring them to be completely enclosed, and to have adequate lighting, and to have hand sanitizer where running water is not accessible or possible. And we’re doubling the number of toilets on job sites to reduce the distance between washroom facilities.

These proposed regulatory amendments will meet labour demands and bring better jobs and bigger paycheques for women on these job sites in Ontario.

When women succeed, Ontario succeeds.

Affordable housing / Homelessness

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Premier.

In the last year, 50,000 more people left Ontario than have arrived, which is out-migration at a level we have never seen before in this province. Most are young adults aged 25 to 35 who can’t afford to save for a home on the salaries they are making—and that includes demoralized, disrespected London West nurses Nicole Forster and Lindsay Smale.

Instead of standing by as nurses like Nicole and Lindsay leave Ontario for good, will the Premier stop fighting nurses in court over the unconstitutional Bill 124 wage cap and start actually fixing the housing affordability crisis?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: There’s a lot in that question.

On the housing side, we have a housing supply action plan which we brought in, starting in 2018, and the opposition is, of course, not in favour of that. We’ve spent weeks talking about how we want to build more homes across the province of Ontario, and then the NDP asks one question at the beginning of question period to suggest we should stop building homes, and then towards the end of question period asks another one if we can build more homes. So I’m not sure what it is that they actually want at this point.

Here’s the thing that we are doing: We are going to build more homes for all of the people of the province of Ontario.

The second part of the question was with respect to health care and health care resources. I can tell you that, because of the extraordinary work of the Minister of Colleges and Universities, we have more people entering the health care field than at any time in our province’s history, and it’s so needed because of the massive amount of investments that we’re making in health care. In long-term care, I need 27,000 additional health care workers. And thanks to the Minister of Colleges and Universities, we’re getting it done.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question? The member for Niagara Centre.

Mr. Jeff Burch: Thank you, Speaker. Through you to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: AMO, representing Ontario’s 444 municipalities, recently released an op-ed that stated: “The homelessness crisis in Ontario is not just an unfortunate situation. It is the outcome of decades of policy decisions and poor choices made by successive Ontario governments....

“The homelessness crisis is a made-in-Ontario crisis that calls out for intelligent and coordinated action on the part of the province.”

This Ontario government ranks dead last of all provinces in per capita spending on services.

Will this government change course, acknowledge Ontario’s homelessness crisis, and accept AMO’s offer to work with the province and municipal governments to end homelessness?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Associate Minister of Housing.

Hon. Michael Parsa: I thank my honourable colleague for the very important question.

What we did is, we brought three older legacy programs and combined them into a new program, the Homelessness Prevention Program, to streamline the process so that service managers spend less time on paperwork and more on helping the people of Ontario who need support. We also increased the funding of this program by $25 million annually across the province.

Mr. Speak