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November 6, 2025

44th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2025-Nov-06 vol. A (PDF)

L035A - Thu 6 Nov 2025 / Jeu 6 nov 2025

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Thursday 6 November 2025 Jeudi 6 novembre 2025

Orders of the Day

Time allocation

Committee sittings / Séances des comités

Members’ Statements

Violence against women

Treaties Recognition Week

Garry Pond

Events in Scarborough–Agincourt

They Walked These Streets

Peel Memorial Hospital

Homelessness

Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week

Mark Woodfield

House sittings

Member’s birthday

Introduction of Visitors

Independent members

Remembrance Day

Question Period

Government accountability

Government’s record

Government accountability

Government accountability

Government accountability

Government accountability

Ontario economy

Highway safety

Supportive housing

Energy policies

Energy policies

Public transit

Public safety

Notice of dissatisfaction

Legislative pages

Deferred Votes

Time allocation

Remembrance Day

Introduction of Visitors

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Government Agencies

Introduction of Government Bills

Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025 (No. 2) / Loi de 2025 sur le plan pour protéger l’Ontario (mesures budgétaires) (no 2)

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Economic outlook and fiscal review / Perspectives économiques et revue financière

Petitions

Foreign-trained doctors

Education funding

Interprovincial trade

Youth mental health

Interprovincial trade

Government accountability

Social assistance

Social assistance

Health care

Health care

Orders of the Day

Committee sittings

The House met at 0900.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Good morning. Let us pray.

Prières / Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Time allocation

Resuming the debate adjourned on November 5, 2025, on the amendment to the motion for time allocation of the following bills:

Bill 60,

An Act to amend various Acts and to enact the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025 / Projet de loi 60, Loi modifiant diverses lois et édictant la Loi de 2025 sur les sociétés publiques de gestion de l’eau et des eaux usées;

Bill 33,

An Act to amend various Acts in relation to child, youth and family services, education, and colleges and universities / Projet de loi 33, Loi modifiant diverses lois relatives aux services à l’enfance, à la jeunesse et à la famille, à l’éducation et aux collèges et universités;

Bill 40,

An Act to amend various statutes with respect to energy, the electrical sector and public utilities / Projet de loi 40, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne l’énergie, le secteur de l’électricité et les services publics.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Further debate?

Mr. John Fraser: I’d just like to begin by saying, if that was an automated speed enforcement camera, these guys would be charged with stunt driving—100%. The other piece is—and I hope the Clerks are listening—I think we need to consider adding in time allocation as a regular occurrence in the standing orders, because, hey, it’s happening. Let’s just do it. Let’s just be open about it.

People talk about respect for Parliament and how important that is, and our democratic institutions, but you actually have to do the democracy to have respect. You have to listen to people. You have to take the time to get it right.

Bill 33 is an important bill. It affects one of the most important things that happens for families in this province—education; we’ve all benefited from it. It’s not even going to committee. That message is, “Talk to the hand. I don’t need to hear from you. I know what’s right.” That’s what the government is saying. “I know what’s best.” For 200 years, schools have belonged to the families and the communities they serve, and it has been that way for 200 years because it works—because schools in Timiskaming are different than schools in downtown Toronto, which are different than schools in Sudbury and the northwest and eastern Ontario. Communities are different.

What this government wants to do is, they want to run it all from Queen’s Park, because on that side of the House they think their job is to represent Queen’s Park in their ridings, not their ridings in Queen’s Park—because if they were, they wouldn’t be doing Bill 33. They wouldn’t be trying to centralize everything into downtown Toronto.

The minister has spent a lot of time pointing the finger at trustees, and some of them needed some finger pointing. He has tried to make this about governance. If the minister wants to crack some eggs and make an omelette, have at her. Here are the ingredients: local, democratic, transparent, and effective. Make whatever omelette you want. I don’t care if you have three trustees, or four, or 10, or 50, because the problem in our schools right now is not governance—because this place already does 80%. Trustees, right now, have this much decision-making power. We’re making most of the decisions here, and the decisions that are being made here are adversely affecting our students and families.

The real problem right now is, our schools aren’t safe places to work or to learn, and that’s for three reasons. Class sizes: They’ve grown; they’re too big. Special education: Kids aren’t getting the help they need because the government is giving boards about $850 million less than they need, so they have to go and get it somewhere else. The third thing is mental health. We hear a lot of talk about what we’re doing for mental health, how we’re supporting kids, how we’re going to make—we’ve got a really big problem, and it’s only reflective of what’s going on right now in our broader society.

We’ve got a broader problem, and we have a cohort of kids who have come through a pandemic.

I’ve been to half a dozen cities here in Ontario, talking to families and to teachers and to students about their schools, and these are some of the stories that I heard. I talked to a principal who actually lives around the corner from me. He has an elementary school of about 700 kids, K to 8. I was talking to him about safe schools. He said, “I had a chair thrown at me by a 12-year-old the other day.” He’s a great principal, a stand-up guy; not a complainer. He looked at me and he said, “It’s just another day.”

Every day in schools across Ontario, kids are being taken out of a classroom. Principals are being called. Sometimes you get a lockdown. It’s just like the government is whistling in the graveyard. They’re not noticing what’s going on there. It’s a really serious problem.

Those are the problems that we should be addressing—not trying to centralize everything into downtown Toronto, not being the representative of Queen’s Park in your community, but representing your community in Queen’s Park. That’s what we need to do here. That’s our job.

Just to go back: To respect the institution, you use the rules, to get democracy. That means maybe sometimes you have to listen to people you don’t want to listen to, like some people are probably doing right now. That’s the way it works, man. We’ve got to respect it. And if we don’t respect it, it will be gone one day.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Further debate?

MPP Catherine McKenney: This government is once again waging a coordinated attack on the people who actually make Ontario work, and they’re doing it in the shadows, ramming through legislation without consultation, without debate, without giving Ontarians a voice.

Let me be clear about what we’re witnessing here: The Premier is simultaneously attacking renters, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders—four groups, one common thread. These are the people this Premier and this government have decided just don’t matter.

On housing, Bill 60 guts tenant protections that have existed for over 50 years. The Premier wants to eliminate month-to-month leases, cut notice periods in half at the LTB, and make it easier than ever to evict individuals and families into homelessness. And he’s doing this while over 80,000 Ontarians are already without housing; while no minimum wage earner in this province can afford a one-bedroom apartment in any city; while young people are giving up hope of ever having a stable place to call home.

On our streets, this government is eliminating bike lanes that actually save lives, lanes that reduce congestion, lanes that give people affordable transportation options. The Premier claims this is about gridlock, but the data says otherwise. Bike lanes move more people in less space. They make our cities more livable. They give families and people real choices.

And on transit, we see a government here that would rather build fantasy tunnels than invest in and encourage rapid transit that cities desperately need. Transit riders—workers, students, seniors—are being abandoned again by this government.

And for pedestrians? Vision Zero sadly has become a cruel joke as pedestrian deaths climb year after year. While this government talks about cutting red tape, they continue to rip out the basic infrastructure that keeps people safe when they walk to school, when they walk to work, when they walk to their local grocery store.

Speaker, here is what ties all of this together: This Premier is attacking anyone who doesn’t fit his vision of Ontario. His Ontario is one where you must be a wealthy friend to participate in society; where you must be a rich corporate friend to feel secure; where if you can’t afford to purchase favours, you simply don’t count. But that’s not the Ontario we want to live in.

Over a third of Ontarians are renters. Millions rely on transit every single day. Many, many choose to cycle to work, school, their grocery store. These aren’t marginal groups. These are our neighbours. They are our family members, our friends. These are nurses, teachers, restaurant workers, and students. These are the people who make our communities function.

And this government won’t even consult them—no committee hearings; no listening to municipalities that will bear the costs of these decisions; no hearing from tenants who will lose their homes; no input from cyclists who will lose safe routes; no consultation with transit agencies struggling to meet demand. “Just ram it through; pass it fast, before people realize what is happening, before communities can organize, and before the facts can get in the way.”

This is not how democracy works. This is not how good policy gets made. This is arrogance. This is ideology over evidence. This is a government that has stopped listening, because it never really cared about what people had to say in the first place.

The Landlord and Tenant Board is broken. This government broke it. Their solution: Punish tenants.

Traffic is bad. Keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe with better infrastructure would help, and making transit move faster would help. Their solution: Rip out bike lanes, remove speed cameras, and strangle transit.

Do you see the pattern, Speaker? Every problem that this government has created they solve by punishing the people who are already struggling.

We know what Ontario needs. We need 300,000 units of deeply affordable housing. We need rent control that actually controls rents. We need protected bike lanes to keep people moving. We need frequent, reliable, affordable public transit. We need Vision Zero infrastructure that actually prevents deaths. We need a government that listens before it legislates.

Instead, we get Bill 60 and its companion attacks on sustainable transportation—legislation written in back rooms, passed without debate, imposed without consultation, all to serve an agenda that makes life harder for millions of Ontarians.

Premier Ford promised in 2018 that he wouldn’t take away rent control. “Period,” he said. But that wasn’t the case. He promised to listen to people. That wasn’t the case. He promised to make life more affordable. Instead, he’s making it impossible for millions of Ontarians.

So here is my message to the government: Stop. Listen. Consult. Give Ontarians a voice before you take away their rights. I urge this government to withdraw this motion, to hold real consultations, to listen to the people who will be affected, to build an Ontario that works for everyone, not just those at the top.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further debate?

Ms. Sandy Shaw: I rise today, yet again, to speak against this government’s use of a time allocation motion—and for those of you who are tuning in and aren’t exactly clear what this is, a time allocation motion is the government using their majority power to rush legislation through this House, limiting our ability to debate, limiting our ability to ask questions of the ministers who are proposing this important legislation, and bypassing committee, which limits your ability as citizens of Ontario to bring your concerns and questions and suggestions to improve legislation to this House.

Make no mistake: Time allocation motions are the government’s heavy hand squashing any democratic use of this place and squashing every individual resident of the province of Ontario—your ability to have your voice heard in this place. We have seen it many times before from this government and, unfortunately, I’m imagining we’re going to see it many times going forward.

While people are in our communities struggling, doing the best that they can to support their communities in difficult times, this government is ramming through legislation on important issues that affect your everyday life.

Your children’s education: This government is giving unprecedented power to a minister to make changes to the education system. I know that your children are going to school in crowded classrooms, where teachers are facing all kinds of incidents of violence, underfunding, understaffing. We have lead in the water in our schools all across the province. Our schools are surpassing lead limits all across the province. That’s not a priority. Giving the minister power in education is a priority.

And housing: The current housing crisis cannot be overstated. Rather than taking the time for this government to hear the struggles that you are having at finding adequate, affordable housing—whether you are overpaying rent; whether you’re being evicted; whether you are trying, as a young person, to have the dream of home ownership; or whether you are living rough on the street, without housing—this government doesn’t want to hear from you.

I do have to say, I’m incredibly proud of what my community, Hamilton, is doing to support one another. This weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Ancaster Lions craft sale. It’s the 25th anniversary of this craft sale. The Lions Club in Ancaster has been around since 1945—80 years of working to support the community. That should be celebrated. And while these folks are busy making sure that all the proceeds from this incredible craft sale go to organizations supporting members in our community, we have a government that is not listening to the concerns of people and doesn’t want to open the doors to this place for people to come and express how they are feeling.

Again, I want to congratulate the Ancaster Lions for their craft sale, and I want to commend them for the spirit of love and community and mutual support that they brought to that event. It was a phenomenal event. I know that they have been there for 80 years, and here is to 80 more years of them supporting our community, in the way that we all should be for our communities.

We have been talking about housing since this government took office almost eight years ago. One and a half million homes are needed to be built in this province. Our housing starts are lower than they’ve been since the 1950s.

This is a government that, instead of focusing on getting back to building affordable housing, homes where people can afford to live, where they want to live, or focusing on protecting renters who already have housing—instead of doing that, this government brings forward Bill 60, which will only exacerbate the housing insecurity of people all across this province.

In Hamilton, city data shows that there has been a 25% increase in people experiencing homelessness. Tenant advocates condemn this bill as a housing horror show. I have to say, it is devastating to watch my community, my municipality, struggling to help people in housing need, when instead this government is focused on blaming the shortage on tenants, making it easier for tenants to be evicted, and not fixing the land tribunal mess that is their making.

I stand here, in this House, urging the government to withdraw this bill and take the time, as you should, to listen to the people—

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Thank you. Further debate? Further debate?

Mr. Hsu has moved an amendment to government notice of motion number 9, relating to allocation of time on the following bills: Bill 60,

An Act to amend various Acts and to enact the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025; Bill 33,

An Act to amend various Acts in relation to child, youth and family services, education, and colleges and universities; and Bill 40,

An Act to amend various statutes with respect to energy, the electrical sector and public utilities.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard a no.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed to the motion will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the nays have it. I declare the motion lost.

Further debate on the main motion? Further debate? Seeing none, pursuant to standing order 50(b), I am now required to put the question.

Mr. Clark has moved government notice of motion number 9, relating to allocation of time on the following bills: Bill 60,

An Act to amend various Acts and to enact the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025; Bill 33,

An Act to amend various Acts in relation to child, youth and family services, education, and colleges and universities; and Bill 40,

An Act to amend various statutes with respect to energy, the electrical sector and public utilities.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard a no.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed to the motion will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

A recorded vote being required, it will be deferred until the next instance of deferred votes.

Vote deferred.

Committee sittings / Séances des comités

Resuming the debate adjourned on November 5, 2025, on the amendment to the amendment to the motion regarding report writing proceedings of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on the study on intimate partner violence.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): I recognize the member from Kitchener South–Hespeler.

Ms. Jess Dixon: In the few minutes that I have left to speak about this, I want to bring us back again to what this debate is actually about, which is finishing the incredible work that we started 18 months ago and have been pursuing doggedly since then.

Bringing this report to the committee for review and bringing it back to the House is a point of completion and of respect to the many professionals, advocates and survivors who came forward and testified over 13 days to this House. As I said yesterday, this is not about what is discovering what is new; it is about connecting what was already known and turning it into the architecture for change. It is about recognizing and treating intimate partner violence as the serious, persistent and structural issue that it is. It is not about a headline. It is not about the level of perceived outrage. It is not a slogan. It is about steadying a systemic problem that demands a systemic solution.

Referring this report to committee is not about delay; it is about discipline. It is ultimately how we turn countless hours of evidence, countless words into action and action into accountability. It’s also about using language that helps us build solutions instead of chasing sound bites.

Calling IPV endemic and reviewing the report that was prepared doesn’t downplay urgency or seriousness. It describes reality, and it deserves an opportunity to be reviewed by this committee and taken back to the House. It shows that this violence is persistent; it’s widespread; it’s baked into institutions and into our culture. When we call it endemic, we are saying out loud that this work is not ending, and every ministry, every government, every community, every one of us has a role in working to reduce and prevent it.

This is also about sustained accountability and sustained dedication, and I think that’s really what the work of the committee, the report, the final review, the tabling is all about. It’s about the fact that we heard about a problem; we came together to study that problem; we studied it in depth, in detail, but it was always with the idea that there was a goal, a target in mind, which was to come back with that architecture for change. As I said, we have spent decades mapping the terrain, the contours of this problem, looking at it from every angle, describing its damage, its pervasiveness.

We know this geography inside and out. Ultimately, what had to be done was that we had to build a road through it, versus just standing there looking at the mountain. And that is what this is about. This is about having built that road and actually standing up to start taking the steps down that road, to handle and respond to this the way that we should—the way that survivors, that professionals, that advocates deserve us to respond to.

Ultimately, this is serious work, and we owe survivors the process that is worthy of their courage, and one that measures results versus just applause.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further debate?

M me France Gélinas: It feels really weird to be standing here this morning to debate a topic that everybody on all sides of the House—we all agree: Intimate partner violence needs the government to take action; it needs us, as leaders in our community, to take action.

We have put forward, as the NDP, many motions asking the government to do what everybody is asking us to do: Declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. But we’re not there.

We are at a point where the Standing Committee on Justice Policy did their work. They heard from dozens and dozens of survivors of intimate partner violence, domestic violence.

I can tell you that I’ve been here for 18 years. I’ve had the privilege of sitting on quite a few committees that travelled and were given a special mandate.

I will always remember when Christine Elliott—she was a brand new MPP at the time—was in opposition. She was a member of the Conservative Party while the Liberals were in power, and she put forward a motion to look at mental health, and to everybody’s surprise, the majority Liberal government agreed. We formed a special committee to travel all over the place. The present Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, was also part of it, and so was Christine Elliott, and so was I. This work was really, really meaningful. It was done in a non-partisan way. We went all over the place.

I remember flying to Kitchenuhmaykoosib, listening to what was going on in that community, with the lack of access to mental health supports. We went through I don’t know how many boxes of Kleenex, listening to what people had to share with us.

Then, we looked at what the researcher had summarized, all of the oral presentations, all of the written submissions. We looked at the work that they had done, and we made it ours. We took what they had put. They are fabulous. The people who work for the Legislative Assembly in research and Hansard are really, really good. They put the report together. We worked on it as a group.

I will always remember—there were only three parties at the time; the Greens had not been elected—that all three parties stood in the media studio to tell the Minister of Health at the time that he had to act upon the recommendations that we had done on the special committee on mental health and addiction. And it worked. You look at some of the recommendations put forward—a centre of excellence. Ontario will now have a centre of excellence in mental health. It worked.

It has worked for hundreds of years. This is the way the Legislative Assembly works. But now we are asked to change this—change this without warning, without explanation as to why we aren’t doing things the same way we have done them for 100 years or more in this House. I wasn’t here for 100 years, just to make it clear. I know I’ve been here a long time—but not 100. This is the way we have done things in this House. The process works. The expertise that exists, the knowledge, the skills of the people within research and Hansard make our work better. And we’re asked to put all this aside on a topic as important as intimate partner violence, and without explanation.

I have deep respect for the member for Kitchener South–Hespeler. I have deep respect for her dedication, for putting all the work that she has put into this. It has nothing to do with her, with her goodwill, with her good intentions. It has to do with—there has to be an explanation as to why the systems that have worked, that are proven, need to be changed now and become behind closed doors.

This is another part of the change that I don’t understand: Why is it that this report that the member has worked on—why doesn’t she just share it with Hansard, share it with the researchers? Get the best of both worlds. The researchers—this is what they do. We pay them to do this, and they are excellent at doing it. They have never let me down, through all the years that I’ve been here, through all the committees that I’ve sat through, through all of the reports—and I have gone through hundreds of them.

Why are we changing this for this particular topic, which is so, so important? I don’t get it.

I have been a politician long enough to know that if I don’t understand, if the end goal is not clear, then it is my job to do the work to make it clear. There could be a very valid explanation as to why we’re doing this. But none of this has been shared. All we know is that we’re not going to benefit from all the researchers who travelled, who were there, who took notes, who did their job. Why not? We paid for that good work. It was done.

I will add some things that are even more puzzling.

The fact that the member who put in her time, her effort and energy to write this report has been taken off that committee—her party doesn’t think that she is the right person to represent them on the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, although she obviously cares about this. She has spoken in the House. I believe what she said. She cares about this. She wants to do the right thing. But then her party said, “You’re not going to be a representative on that committee anymore.” Again, there are red flags going up. What is going on?

Why is it that of all the people who were on the committee when all of the hard work was done, only one member of the NDP, from Toronto Centre, is still on that committee? The rest of them have all been taken off. And new people who did not have a chance to listen to the survivors who shared their stories, because—and for very good reason; I don’t blame them. All of the testimonies were made in camera to make sure that the survivors felt as protected as possible when they shared really, really difficult stories. I’m all for this. The process was fine. I’m not blaming the process.

What I’m saying is that the people who are now on that committee won’t gain access to all of the notes and things that the researchers have put together. The researchers were there when all of those testimonies were being done behind closed doors. The researchers read all of the written submissions that have been done. They have done their work to put the report together. But none of the people who were there, who heard the testimonies, who lived through this experience, are there anymore.

What’s going on with the Conservative government? When the members of their caucus stand up, it looks like their heart is in the right place, it looks like they understand how this important issue needs our attention, but then, when it comes time to act—and as an MPP, I act by voting, by putting motions forward, by putting bills forward. When they act, they put things like:

“Resuming the debate adjourned on November 5, 2025, on the amendment to the amendment to the motion regarding report writing proceedings of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on the study on intimate partner violence, as follows ... :

“That upon receipt by the Standing Committee on Justice Policy of a draft report on intimate partner violence provided by the member from Kitchener South–Hespeler, the committee meet for the purpose of report writing on the following days”—it’s like they say the right things, but when it comes time to act, when it comes time to put a motion forward, then it derails. I don’t want it to derail. This is real. This is happening. This has to change.

Donc, ils nous mettent une motion avec toutes sortes de changements quand même très importants : un changement à comment on fait le travail de comité, qui écrit les

sommaires, comment on bénéficie des gens qui font la recherche, les gens qui font le Hansard—tout ça. Mais tout ça est en train de changer sans aucune explication de pourquoi tout ça.

Autant que je veuille penser qu’il y a de bonnes intentions en arrière de tout ça, moi, je suis politicienne depuis longtemps. Quand il y a des choses que je ne comprends pas, quand il y a des choses qu’on ne peut pas m’expliquer, il y a des drapeaux rouges qui se lèvent, puis j’essaie d’aller au fond des choses pour savoir ce qui se passe vraiment. En ce moment, bien, c’est pas mal difficile d’aller au fond des choses.

Cela affecte des millions de vies, principalement des femmes. Au-delà des statistiques—on dit que près d’un tiers des femmes ayant eu des relations en couple signale avoir subi une forme de violence physique ou sexuelle de la part de leur partenaire intime au cours de leur vie. Ce sont des destins brisés, des familles déchirées, des vies vécues dans la peur, l’insécurité, qui se cache en arrière de chacun de ces chiffres-là. Les personnes—c’était surtout des femmes—qui sont venues témoigner devant le comité s’attendent à plus que ça. On s’attend à ce que le processus qui est là depuis plus de 100 ans soit là pour un sujet qui est tellement important.

Vous allez vous souvenir quand ma collègue présentait sa motion pour déclarer la violence intime une épidémie, les galeries étaient pleines. Elles étaient pleines surtout de femmes et de leurs alliés qui l’avaient vécu, qui étaient là pour dire au gouvernement : « On vit dans une démocratie, vous devez nous écouter, vous devez faire quelque chose. » Même avec tout le stigma qu’il y a autour de la violence conjugale, elles sont venues. Elles ont demandé au gouvernement de déclarer la violence conjugale une épidémie, et ils ont refusé de le faire.

On a eu le comité qui a fait du bon travail, qui a voyagé, qui a écouté, qui a mis en place la fondation pour faire des recommandations que tous les partis seraient capables d’appuyer, sur lesquelles tous les partis s’entendent.

Parce qu’on sait tous que la violence conjugale, c’est une réalité. C’est une réalité qui tombe sur les épaules des députées provinciales de faire quelque chose.

Et là qu’on est si proche de la fin, madame la Présidente—on est proche de la fin. Ils ont écouté. L’équipe de recherche, l’équipe de Hansard ont fait leur travail. Et là on nous dit : « Non, on va ignorer tout ça. On va prendre un rapport qui a été écrit par une députée »—qui veut faire un changement, je n’en doute absolument pas; une députée qui a mis beaucoup de temps, d’effort et d’énergie pour écrire quelque chose. Mais ce n’est pas comme ça que ça se passe, madame, dans l’Assemblée législative.

À l’Assemblée législative, ce sont des gens pour qui c’est leur travail—qui ont écouté tout ça—qui font une première ébauche, qui s’assurent que tous les points de vue—il y en a qui sont acceptables; il y en a qui sont plus difficiles à accepter, dépendamment d’où est-ce que vous êtes sur l’échiquier politique. Les recherchistes, eux, ne s’occupent pas de la politique. Ils s’occupent des faits. Qu’est-ce qu’a été dit par qui, tout ça va être dans leur rapport. Et après ça, on donne la chance aux députés de s’entendre sur les recommandations principales qu’on veut que l’Assemblée législative passe.

Pourquoi avoir changé ce processus-là, je ne le comprends pas. Si vous voulez notre appui à ça, vous devez nous expliquer pourquoi. Ce n’est pas comme ça qu’on fait les choses. Tu ne peux pas assumer qu’une députée du Parti conservateur va regarder les faits de la même façon que les gens qui font de la recherche pour l’Assemblée législative. Ici, tout est toujours un peu biaisé ou teinté par les partis politiques. Moi, je vois les choses au travers de ce que je comprends, de mes valeurs. Les gens des autres partis politiques voient les choses au travers de leurs valeurs. Puis ça, c’est bien correct. C’est ça que c’est, une démocratie. Mais, c’est pour cela qu’on a des gens qui font

partie des comités pour qui c’est leur travail d’écrire les recommandations, d’écrire ce que s’est passé. Après ça, on fait notre travail de faire des recommandations.

Je vois que le temps file.

The idea that we would go away from the way to write reports that has been used for the last hundred years in here has not been explained to any of us.

I do not doubt the good intentions of the member who put in the work.

We have to have independent researchers, who do not put political values on what has been said and what has been recommended, put the first committee report together, and then have the members of the committee decide on what recommendations they want to put forward.

What has been suggested has never been done before and is not acceptable.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further debate?

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: I really think it’s unfortunate that we are still here today to discuss the merit of bringing the report back to committee. I really hope that we can come to the decision and realize the importance of bringing the report back, to complete a process that needs to keep going. We need to continue to work on this issue because intimate partner violence and violence against women—it really does touch every single community, every background, every generation, and it does not discriminate by income, by geography, by political affiliation.

It is a reality that far too many women and girls in Ontario still live today. All of us know someone who has been impacted by violence. We heard stories just yesterday of people who have been touched by a person whose life has been taken, who’s lost to intimate partner violence.

I’ve seen the courage it takes to leave. I’ve seen that courage in women I’ve worked with—the fear of the unknown, and the strength it takes to start again. I’ve seen the faces of survivors, and I’ve seen the faces of those we’ve lost too soon.

Madam Speaker, from the very beginning our intention was clear: It was to study the issues of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence at committee. It was to listen to experts and survivors and front-line workers, to produce a report that reflects the scale and the urgency of the crisis. That work has to be done, and it has to be completed.

Let me just remind everybody: The bill that was moved by the member from Windsor West was one sentence. It was to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. That’s it. What else? Why would we move something so monumental without having the work done behind it, without listening to the professionals and the people who have been victims and survivors, without having their voice woven into the report, into something that we can take back to help strengthen Ontario-STANDS, which is Ontario’s strategy? We need to make sure that if we’re going to move something so monumental that we have the voices of those impacted incorporated.

I do remember the member from Toronto Centre, yesterday, in her speech, saying, “Why don’t we just move the bill? Why don’t we just do this gesture for the community?” To us, this isn’t a gesture; this is work that people have invested their careers and their lives in. They’ve held the hands of those whose have lost loved ones, who have been terrified on their doorstep, while police lights are flashing outside, trying to de-escalate a situation. These are people who have done this work. They have been saying for decades that this is serious and we need a strategy, something to move forward with.

So, to me, moving a bill that’s one sentence isn’t enough. That is why, after all of the hours that were put in, all of the work that was done by the members at committee—we heard that this has been such a deep-rooted issue, that violence against women is endemic in our society. The people who have done this work deserve that time. They deserve that we are going to put in the time to address the issue responsibly, with care and, again, to strengthen our strategy—because we did release a strategy in 2023, in December. We did commit $1.4 billion to that strategy.

And that strategy did have the voices of those who are in the sector. They contributed to that strategy. That’s why we were very confident in putting this forward.

I want to make sure that we honour the voices that participated in committee. That’s what this is about—finishing the process that we started.

As we stand here in November—it’s Woman Abuse Prevention Month—our government is ready with the report and a plan. We’re ready to do the work. But right now, instead of doing the work and getting this going, we are here debating on whether we should come back and go back to committee.

Madam Speaker, I listened to what the member from Kanata–Carleton said yesterday about trust and having trust in government. That is so important, because if you don’t have trust in government and trust in the people who won a majority, who’ve been chosen by the people of Ontario to lead this province forward—when you start to erode that trust and put out information that isn’t factual, you are really limiting the ability for people in our province to access the resources that our government is investing in. People aren’t going to trust that programs that we’ve invested in are available to them.

That is so harmful. To me, that is harmful to the women who are stuck in these abusive relationships, who need the resources to get out—those women who are listening to a narrative saying that our government doesn’t believe in and doesn’t want to invest in your programs.

I was really shocked to see a news release come out from the member from Windsor West saying, “The Ontario NDP continue to stand with victims, survivors, front-line workers, and advocates in demanding that the Ford government declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, and make real investments in prevention, shelter spaces, and survivor supports.”

What did we talk about yesterday? The $1.4 billion we invested in Ontario-STANDS. We had just announced on Monday $27 million for 300 shelter spaces. We’ve invested millions to help women rebuild their lives and get training, supports and access to opportunities, so that they do not have to choose between staying in an abusive relationship or being on their own in putting food on their table and taking care of their kids.

If you keep pushing this message that our government does not care about women and our government does not care about the safety of women, you are reducing the opportunity for the women out there who need our help to access the help. That means you are actually a part of the problem, a problem that so many people who participated in committee have been talking about for decades—so many people who participated in committee, who shared their stories and their voices to say, “This is serious. This issue of violence is so deep-rooted that we need to make sure that we’re moving forward and addressing the endemic that is violence against women.”

I hope that we take a sober moment to really think about what our actions are doing.

I’ve worked with women who were—again, I’ve said it many times: almost 20 years. That was my career before I came into politics.

The member from Kitchener–Hespeler was a judge. She put people away who were abusive to others—

Hon. Laurie Scott: Crown attorney.

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: She was a crown attorney. That’s huge. She has seen first-hand the result of not providing investments and supporting the development of youth and children. She has seen first-hand what that leads to, just like I have. I’ve seen what happens to families when we don’t provide them with the supports.

We know that in order to have a strong economy, we need all hands on deck. We need every person in our province to have the opportunities to be able to earn an income. It’s the only way we’re going to build the hospitals. The only way we’re going to build the roads and all the things that we need is if we have a healthy society.

The member from Toronto Centre, who worked with the member from Kitchener–Hespeler—they’re lawyers. They’ve done this work. They’re smart individuals. They helped create the process that we agreed to, to review and listen to the voices of those who have been doing this work for decades. They agreed to that process, and we were following it.

I know the members of the NDP and the Liberals have experience as well. They have careers that are informing their decision-making—just like many of us who are Progressive Conservatives are lawyers, doctors, health practitioners, nurses, businessmen and businesswomen. We all are here because we’ve lived a life and we know we have something to contribute to our province.

We have to be so careful with what kind of information we’re putting out there—to say that we’re not making real investments, to keep pushing and saying that this government doesn’t care about the most vulnerable. What? What? That is so incredibly hurtful—hurtful to our society, hurtful to the people who rely on us to have their best interests at the core of every decision we make.

I didn’t get involved in government to sit here, chill out, relax, and earn a paycheque—absolutely not. I got involved for the same reasons that the members opposite got involved: to make change; to do good work; to make sure that people have opportunities, have food on their tables, can take care of their kids, live a life that is free from violence. That is the reason why we all are here—to grow a strong province, to fight for our economy, to protect Ontario. That’s why we’re here.

So please be careful with the messages you’re putting out to your followers, your supporters. Please stop being a part of the problem that we are all here trying to solve. We owe that to every resident who lives in our province, every resident we represent.

When a person comes into your office saying, “I’m really struggling, and I need to get out of this home,” what are you saying to them? Are you saying, “Do you know what? There’s a program that is close by, through this Achēv or”—I’m going to talk about my neighbourhood, because I’m in Brampton Centre. “There’s a program at Achēv that the government just increased funding to. Let’s see if we can get you access to that program.” Are you saying that?

Or are you saying, “Well, if the government had just invested, then maybe you wouldn’t be in this position”—because I guarantee you, I’ve heard people say that’s the message they’ve been told. I’ve heard people say, “Well, I was told that you guys aren’t doing anything. That’s why I didn’t know I could come to your office and find out information about housing and supports.” And I say, “No. Millions of dollars have been invested in your health care system. Millions of dollars have been invested in your education system, in the social service sector.”

I have organizations coming to me and saying, “Thank you for hearing us. Thank you for investing in our programs—programs that we haven’t had funded for many years.”

We all have stakeholders. We all have a duty to support our stakeholders and make sure that they’re getting the resources necessary. So I always encourage people—“If you are experiencing a challenge, come see me. We’re here, as civil servants. We’re here to help.”

I want to just go over some of the things we’ve done, because I want to make sure people who may be listening understand that we are making real investments. We are making real investments every day, like the $27 million that we’ve put into 300 shelter beds—300. That’s the gap that was created over years. We need to close the gap. And then we invested more—300 shelter beds, so, hopefully, when women call and say, “I need to get out of this abusive home,” when they call and get 211, which is something we’ve also funded and expanded, they’ll be able to get access to a shelter bed immediately.

We also made sure that we expanded the Assaulted Women’s Helpline. We funded that; expanded it. I always say it—1-866-863-0511. Call that number—somebody will answer—to get connected to supports in your area.

We also funded a program with the police and social work—a program that was a pilot, but now we’ve made it permanent—where a social worker rides along on domestic violence or intimate partner violence calls, so that the police officer has the support of a social worker who is an expert in that field. We funded that. We’ve seen an increase in calls because people are now knowing who to call and where to call. That’s important.

We’re also seeing a decrease in the amount of serious violent acts. We’ve seen femicides in Peel drop from 2022 to 2025, to two. Two is way too many, because those have been extremely traumatic. But that’s why we are always pushing the phone numbers for people to call—so we can save more lives.

Also, holding offenders accountable—the changes we’ve made in our judicial system to make sure criminal court communicates with Family Court; also, the work that was done by the member from Oakville North–Burlington on Keira’s Law. We’re making some changes, and this is how you address the endemic that is violence against women—significant changes.

When we talk about holding offenders accountable; when we talk about bail reform, making sure our justice system is strong in keeping those abusive people in jail—we are making sure that we are getting this done, because we need to hold offenders accountable.

We funded, through victim services, the bail notification system, so that women who have a partner who is in jail or held on bail because of a violent act, abuse, are notified when the individual is getting let out, so that they can enact their safety plan.

If you don’t talk about and share this information with every woman who needs it, you are part of the problem. When news channels don’t broadcast the Assaulted Women’s Helpline after reporting on a femicide, you’re part of the problem. You need to get the information out.

What else have we funded? We’ve increased, actually, the base funding for organizations that serve women by 5%. We did that after we signed the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. That was the first increase they’d seen in over a decade. We increased their funding by 5%.

And then we put funding back into community through the call for proposals—that’s the whole second pillar of Ontario-STANDS, Ontario’s strategy to end gender-based violence. Over a hundred programs, initiatives that are happening in communities, are being funded to continue to do their work.

New initiatives: We’re finally breaking down the silos in organizations that are operating in communities, to get them to communicate. It’s not helpful when a woman goes to one organization to try to get help and then goes to another and then goes to another and goes to another, but we’re not making sure these organizations are communicating so that the women’s actions can be tracked. We’re breaking those silos down.

Ontario-STANDS is not just a plan; it’s a promise—a promise of long-term, proactive change, so that women can live free from violence. We’re rebuilding women’s lives through the fifth pillar of financial independence, so that women, again, don’t have to choose between staying in an abusive relationship or putting food on their table, paying their own rent and living independently, free from violence.

We’re also making sure that women who are in abusive relationships are being built up and encouraged to see the value in themselves, to have the courage to one day finally leave and break free. That’s what we are doing.

We are a government that cares deeply for each individual in this province.

I encourage all members to come back to committee to finish this process so that we can all continue to work to keep women safe in Ontario.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further debate?

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: ᐊᒥᐁᐧᔾ ᒥᑫᐧᐨ ᒪᐊᐧᐨ ᓂᓇᓇᑎᑕᐣ ᑫᓂᐣ ᐅᒪ ᑲᐊᔭᒥᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑫᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᐧᒥᑎᑯᔑᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑫᐧᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᑫᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐊᔭᒥᐣᑕᒧᐊᐧᐨ ᐅᑫᐧᓂᐊᐧᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓭᐊᐧᐨ ᐃᑫᐧᐊᐧᐠ.

It is an honour to be able to stand up and rise to speak in my language, but also to have an opportunity to listen about this motion.

I am here from Kiiwetinoong to represent the unrepresented; I am here to represent the under-represented—the people in far northern Ontario.

I am here today to speak to this motion tabled by this government—a motion regarding the Standing Committee on Justice Policy’s report on intimate partner violence. I understand and I know that this motion asks us to adopt a process that is outside of how our committees usually produce reports. It is a process that runs the risk of undermining the integrity of this House, and also the integrity of the work of committees.

One of the members spoke about how they travelled a few years ago—I was actually surprised—to fly-in First Nations in northern Ontario, back in the late 2000s, to do committee work. When we talk about Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug—ᐁᑲᐧ ᑲᐊᓂᒧᒪᔭᑲᐧ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᐃᓂᓂᐊᐧᐠ—Big Trout Lake—it’s unheard of nowadays for committees to travel in far northern Ontario, to fly-in First Nations, to hear the people who have these issues.

I share that because the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement—and this improvement needs to happen. This engagement needs to happen all over Ontario, when we travel these committees.

Yesterday, myself and some colleagues from all four parties in this chamber took

part in the Moose Hide Campaign’s 10-men ceremony. I’m going to share a little bit of my experience about yesterday—just to say that the Moose Hide Campaign is a First Nations-led grassroots movement to stand up against violence towards women and children. They focus especially on engaging men and boys to consider their role in addressing violence against women and children.

I know that the Moose Hide Campaign was founded by the executive director, Raven Lacerte, and her father, Paul Lacerte. They were inspired by an experience they shared on the land, when they shot a moose near Highway 16 in British Columbia, which is also known as the Highway of Tears because of how many Indigenous women and girls have gone missing or been murdered along that highway. Now the small squares of moosehide are worn across Canada as a symbol of commitment to protect women and girls from violence.

The 10-men fasting ceremony is a non-partisan gathering designed to create a safe space for men to reflect on their personal commitments—

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): I’m sorry to interrupt the member.

Seeing the time on the clock, it is now time for members’ statements.

Debate deemed adjourned.

Members’ Statements

Violence against women

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos: The need to end intimate partner violence and gender-based violence remains as urgent as ever.

Last weekend, to mark November as Woman Abuse Prevention Month, I joined our community at Hope in Every Step, an annual event to end violence against women.

In 2022, my motion, Keira’s Law, calling for mandatory education and training for judges and justices of the peace on IPV and coercive control, was unanimously passed by this House. It later became law when the Attorney General included it in Bill 102, the Strengthening Safety and Modernizing Justice Act.

More progress was made with Clare’s Law, allowing individuals to seek disclosure from police about a partner’s history of abuse.

And this week, an additional $26.7 million was announced for shelter spaces and to strengthen the Family Court Support Worker Program.

It’s progress, but more can be done.

In Ottawa, a bill was just introduced demanding changes to the Criminal Code to make the killing of an intimate partner automatically first-degree murder. I hope all federal parties move quickly to pass this law.

To survivors across Ontario: We see you, we support you, and we are committed to building a safer province.

Together, through compassion and action, we can turn hope into lasting change, one step at a time.

Treaties Recognition Week

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: This week is Treaties Recognition Week in Ontario. We know that Treaty 9 is here, actually, in the Lieutenant Governor’s suite this week, where school groups have been able to learn about the shared history. Meegwetch to Sean Smith and his team from Archives of Ontario for their work in sharing the treaty.

The treaty being here reminds us that treaties are not simple, one-time transactions; they are living documents.

First Nations people see treaties as sacred agreements, establishing a relationship of mutual benefit—living together in peace and prosperity for everyone.

Speaker, chiefs across Treaty 9 territory met this week, and they are sending a clear message to Ontario and Canada: The government will not build Canada and Ontario on the backs of our communities. They will not reap profits off our lands while leaving our people without access to clean water, safe housing, or proper health care.

I want to quote Chief Sheri Taylor from Ginoogaming: “Canada cannot write its own future based on the erosion of our rights and our lands. We are constantly in states of emergencies and crisis, while the government is taking out television ads planning how they will profit off our lands.”

This is not the promise of the treaties. Meegwetch.

Garry Pond

Mrs. Karen McCrimmon: A year ago, I shared with you the story of a hero of mine: Roly Armitage, a World War II veteran and D-Day survivor, who passed away last year at 99 years old.

I rise today to speak to you about another hero of mine. Garry Pond served his country his entire adult life: first, as a member of the Canadian Forces, but then when he retired, he continued to serve by assuming leadership roles in the Royal Canadian Legion, reaching the position of president of the Ontario Command and vice-president of the Dominion Command—in other words, vice-president of the Canada-wide operation. He wanted the Legion to rededicate itself to the service of veterans and their families.

Garry passed away at the young age of 73 earlier this year, leaving behind his wife, Linda; grandchildren Parker and Paislee; and a daughter, Rhonda, who I am so proud to have as my constituency office manager.

Linda, Rhonda, Parker, Paislee, thank you for sharing Garry with us all. You made sacrifices so Garry could serve.

The world needs heroes, and Garry Pond was one of them. I will always be grateful for his example of service and leadership. May he never be forgotten.

Lest we forget.

Events in Scarborough–Agincourt

Mr. Aris Babikian: While the House was in its summer recess, I had a very busy season back in my constituency. I had the privilege of attending over 365 events, meetings and announcements in my riding. I also had the pleasure of hosting two community barbecues, each welcoming more than 1,000 residents.

One of the key announcements I attended was the groundbreaking of the Scarborough Centre station, the first of three new stations on the Scarborough subway extension. This marks a significant milestone in our government’s commitment to build the Scarborough subway extension.

I also had the honour of welcoming the Minister of Long-Term Care to Mon Sheong Court in my riding, where we announced that we are increasing annual funding to a record $1.92 billion to support the significant increase in staffing in the province’s long-term-care homes over the past four years. Mon Sheong also recently opened a traditional Chinese medicine clinic to better serve residents in Scarborough.

Additionally, I was pleased to join my colleagues at Carefirst’s annual AGM, where we announced over $4.5 million as part our government’s primary care action plan.

Madam Speaker, it was truly a wonderful summer. I had the opportunity to continue working hard on the priorities—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Members’ statements?

They Walked These Streets

MPP Alexa Gilmour: Speaker, in a world once again treading at the edge of conflict, where divisive voices grow louder, remembering is

an act of resistance.

In the halls of Humberside Collegiate is a plaque where I trace my fingers and I find Stewart Foster, a great-uncle I never met, who died in World War I, leaving an ache in the heart of my great-grandmother.

Today, stories like his live on through They Walked These Streets, a remarkable project started by Katy Whitfield and Ian Da Silva. Using military records, photographs and archives, they’ve restored the names and faces of our local soldiers, tying them to specific homes, streets, churches, schools right in our neighbourhood. Together with the veterans of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344, Maple Leaf/Swansea Branch 266/46, and Swansea Town Hall, this initiative reminds us that the call after all the wars was “never again.”

Speaker, I wish my grandfathers from World War II were still alive today, because they would remind us that peace is never permanent; it must be upheld with every decision we make.

This year, I want to thank all those participating: Runnymede United, St. Olave’s Anglican, Annette library, St. Paul’s, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Humbercrest United, Swansea Town Hall, Runnymede Presbyterian, Morningside-High Park Presbyterian, Dundas Roncesvalles Peace Garden.

May we always remember and never again forget.

Peel Memorial Hospital

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: In March, we broke ground on the early works for the new Peel Memorial Hospital in Brampton—a major step forward in delivering a second full-service hospital.

Speaker, this project is moving full speed ahead. A new development agreement is now in place to guide the next phase, finalizing the design, schedule, and construction planning. Each milestone brings us closer to bringing this new hospital to life.

When it’s complete, the new Peel Memorial Hospital will add 350 beds, a 24/7 emergency department, modern operating rooms, and expanded mental health, rehabilitation and family care services. This means shorter wait times and better access to emergency care and world-class health services right here in our great city of Brampton.

This new hospital will relieve pressure on Brampton Civic, reduce wait times, create hundreds of new health care jobs, ensuring Brampton residents have access to care when they need it and close to home.

Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is delivering the critical infrastructure Ontario families depend on. That includes hospitals, highways, housing, and so much more. Brampton is front and centre in that plan.

The expansion of Peel Memorial Hospital is building a healthier and stronger Brampton.

Homelessness

Mr. Chris Glover: I was delivering meals to people in encampments last week, and I came across two men. They’d been homeless for two years, and they’re working with Streets to Homes. They would actually like to get jobs, but you can’t get a job if you don’t have an address to put on a job application. They’re afraid, as the weather gets colder, that they’re not even going to get a shelter space; that they’re going to have to spend another winter riding back and forth on the subway.

They are just two of the thousands of people who are homeless in this province.

This Conservative government inherited a crisis, with 50,000 people homeless from the former Liberal government—they’ve turned it into 80,000 homeless. There are 1,400 encampments across the province.

Under this government, rents have gone up by 40%. The cost of buying a house has gone up by 40%. Some 50,000 people leave this province each year, largely because they can never afford to buy a home or even rent a home in this province.

The Conservatives have donated a billion dollars to developers, but the developers aren’t able to build housing. So this government, in spite of that billion-dollar donation, has the second-worst record of housing starts of any province in the country.

On the other hand, Olivia Chow has cut ribbons on 1,300 units of affording housing last month and another 1,300 units of rental housing—and they’re doing this by exchanging city parking lots for affordable housing.

We in the NDP asked this government to do the same thing—the same thing that John Robarts, a former Conservative Premier had done—and they called it a communist plot.

Will this government please—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member from Richmond Hill.

Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week

Mrs. Daisy Wai: Last Friday, I held a press conference in my riding of Richmond Hill, alongside city councillors, stakeholders and local media, to formally announce the first annual Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week, declared through my private member’s bill which received royal assent on December 19, 2024.

Every Ontarian deserves to carefully consider their future living arrangements, caregiver options, and financial security. Yet too often, we have trouble having these difficult conversations with our loved ones.

Many residents in my riding of Richmond Hill only discuss their future goals and needs in times of crisis, such as after a medical emergency or hospital admission.

It is my hope that Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week will encourage meaningful conversation amongst family members across Ontario. Creating a comprehensive, personal road map with proper time and support means we can help support Ontarians through every stage of their life. With planning, we can encourage everyone to enjoy their silver years with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

Mark Woodfield

Ms. Jess Dixon: I rise today to honour the life and the death of Coach Mark Woodfield, a man whose quiet strength, humour and generosity helped define the spirit of community in Cambridge.

Coach Mark was known to so many through his years of coaching with the Cambridge Ice Hounds and the Buddy League—programs that made hockey and baseball accessible to players of all abilities. Through both, he created spaces where everyone could belong, compete and be celebrated for exactly who they were. His encouragement and patience helped countless athletes discover confidence, teamwork and joy.

Even while facing a diagnosis that would have tested anyone’s resolve, Coach Mark continued to show up for others. He spent his time, up until literally the last, doing what he loved: connecting, supporting and cheering people on, always with an easy smile and infectious energy that made everyone around him feel welcome.

Mark leaves behind a lasting legacy in his children, Chloe, Liam and Mick, and in the generations of young athletes whose lives he touched.

On behalf of the Legislature and the community of Cambridge, I extend sincere condolences to his family and his friends, his beloved athletes, and to everyone in the Ice Hounds and the Buddy League communities.

Coach Mark’s kindness, strength and love of life will never be forgotten.

House sittings

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 9(h), the Clerk has received written notice from the government House leader indicating that a temporary change in the weekly meeting

schedule of the House is required. Therefore, the House shall commence at 9 a.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025, for the proceeding orders of the day.

I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 9(g), the Clerk has received written notice from the government House leader indicating that a temporary change in the weekly meeting

schedule of the House is required. Therefore, the afternoon routine on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, shall commence at 1 p.m.

Member’s birthday

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Brantford–Brant on a point of order.

Mr. Will Bouma: Thank you, Speaker. I would just like to make mention to the House that it is the birthday of the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.

Applause.

Introduction of Visitors

Hon. Ernie Hardeman: I’d like to welcome a good friend from Oxford: Michellene Beauchamp, with her son Eli; her daughter Eleanor; and her sister Keescha Wherry.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: It’s my pleasure to welcome the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario to Queen’s Park. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

MPP Jamie West: I want to recognize, from the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario, president-elect Kevin Zizzo. I just learned this morning that we were both camp counsellors at Camp Brébeuf in Rockwood.

Ms. Lee Fairclough: I’d also like to welcome the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario, including the CEO, Dr. Michelle Acorn; the president, Marie Greer-King; the past president, Barbara Bailey; and all of them who are here today. Welcome.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I too would like to welcome the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario for being here today, with a special shout-out to Jodi Colwill, who is a nurse practitioner on the Guelph Wellington Ontario Health Team. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: I want to wish a warm welcome to Garry Rossi, the president and CEO of ENWIN Utilities and the chair of the board of governors at St. Clair College. Welcome.

Hon. Sam Oosterhoff: I have the privilege of welcoming today to the Legislature an excellent councillor from the beautiful township of West Lincoln: Bill Reilly. Welcome to the people’s House.

M me France Gélinas: I would like to wish a warm welcome to Dr. Michelle Acorn—she’s the CEO of the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario—and all of the nurse practitioners with us today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Welcome. It’s lovely to see you.

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: I too would like to welcome Barbara Bailey, Sarah Schmidt and Charlene Welsh, also with the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario. Welcome to Queen’s Park. Thank you for an incredible meeting this morning.

Mr. David Smith: I’d like to recognize Alice Wu, who is our page captain from Scarborough Centre. Today she’s serving in the House as the team captain.

Hon. Mike Harris: It’s always a pleasure to welcome, via the television, Barbra Stevens today.

Mrs. Daisy Wai: I’m honoured to introduce the following veterans’ organizations: Coding for Veterans, ANAVETS, Commissionaires Great Lakes, Treble Victor, True Patriot Love Foundation, Wounded Warriors, and the Royal Canadian Military Institute.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Independent members

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the government House leader on a point of order.

Hon. Steve Clark: Madam Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for two minutes to be allotted to the independent members as a group to respond to Minister Bethlenfalvy’s fall economic statement during ministerial statements today.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Mr. Clark is seeking unanimous consent for two minutes to be allotted to the independent members as a group to respond to Minister Bethlenfalvy’s fall economic statement during ministerial statements today. Agreed? Agreed.

Remembrance Day

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the government House leader.

Hon. Steve Clark: If you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in recognition of Remembrance Day, with five minutes allotted to the government, five minutes allotted to the official opposition, five minutes allotted to the third party, and two minutes allotted to the independent members as a group, followed by a moment of silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The government House leader is seeking unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in recognition of Remembrance Day, with five minutes allotted to the government, five minutes allotted to the official opposition, five minutes allotted to the third party, and two minutes allotted to the independent members as a group, followed by a moment of silence. Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: I’m honoured to rise in this House, as Premier of Ontario, during Remembrance Week and share my gratitude to those who serve and have served in Canada’s military, including one of our great colleagues across the aisle and including the many veterans’ organizations represented here today in the gallery.

November 11 is a day when our nation comes together to express our collective appreciation to all the courageous men and women in uniform who gave their all to defend the values and freedoms we hold so dear.

This November 11, as we observe a moment of silence, I urge the people of Ontario to reflect on the bravery of our Canadian Armed Forces—these exceptional men and women who left the comforts of home and family to put their lives on the line to protect their country and answer the call in the hour of need.

At the same time, we think of the families and loved ones of those brave soldiers and the sacrifices they also made to serve their country.

I want to take a moment to mourn the more than 120,000 brave soldiers throughout our history who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country. Their selfless courage has helped not only to define Canada but to shape our history and safeguard our future. We will always honour their memory.

This year marked 80 years since the end of World War II, when more than one million men and women returned home from military duty and began to rebuild their lives here in Ontario and across Canada.

The actions of our troops in the Second World War aren’t just remembered here, but in the rows upon rows of graves across the battlefronts of the war. We can see nations like the Netherlands where soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of freedom and where our veterans and flag will always be welcomed with open arms.

Canadian soldiers have shown time and time again that they will never shy away from defending the principles that make Canada the best country in the world. Through two world wars, conflicts in South Africa, the Korean peninsula, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan, Canadians answered the call of duty to stand with our friends and allies through thick and thin.

I also want to call special attention to National Indigenous Veterans Day, which is marked on November 8. It’s a chance to honour the First Nations, Inuit and Métis service people who overcame obstacles to serve our country with bravery and dignity, and I thank them.

Most of us will never be able to imagine the sacrifices that veterans willingly make every day. It falls on us to make sure they know the people of Ontario will always stand with them.

So I encourage everyone to wear a poppy in honour of our soldiers, and, as wreaths are laid and we observe a moment of silence this November 11, to remember the individual acts of courage and bravery that these powerful symbols represent—to thank our veterans for the gift of freedom and security they have granted us, and to show our respect for the active service members who safeguard that gift every day.

To every veteran, service person and military family in our province: We thank you. Ontario is proud of you. Canada is proud of you.

May God bless the men and women in uniform.

Lest we forget.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for St. Catharines.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: It’s always an honour to rise on behalf of the official opposition as we approach Remembrance Day—a time to pause, a time to reflect, and a time to remember.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canada will stop. For one sacred moment, the noise of our lives fades away, and in that stillness, we remember. We remember the brave. We remember the fallen. We remember those who stood between tyranny and freedom and chose freedom.

For me, this day carries a deeply personal meaning, as well as for other members in this House. Both of my grandfathers served in the Royal Canadian Air Force—ordinary men who answered an extraordinary call. They came home changed—quieter, humbler, yet proud to have served something greater than themselves

That legacy continues in my family. My son, Petty Officer First Class Jonathan Lindal, proudly serves in the Royal Canadian Navy. As a mother, I carry mixed pride and worry that every parent of a service member feels. Their service reminds me daily that freedom is never free.

Across this country, from small towns to big cities, Canadians will gather at cenotaphs, schools and Legions to honour those who have given their lives so that we may live in peace and dignity. Each poppy worn is a reminder of personal connections, family legacies, and the sacrifices that built our nation.

We must also remember the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people who defended this land long before Canada was a country. From the Six Nations Confederacy at the Battle of Queenston Heights to Indigenous soldiers in both world wars and modern-day missions, their courage has shaped our history. Too often, their sacrifices have gone unrecognized.

Today, we say clearly: We see you, we thank you, and we will remember you.

Speaker, Canada’s story is written in courage. At Vimy Ridge, Canadians achieved what others said was totally impossible. At Dieppe, they suffered loss that paved the way for victory. And at Juno Beach, they helped free a continent. In missions since—in Korea, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and peacekeeping around the world—Canadians have stood for compassion, justice and duty.

More than 118,000 Canadians have given their lives for this country. Countless others returned home, carrying wounds, both seen and unseen. We owe them more than words. We owe them understanding, care and action.

Speaker, we have right here in Ontario the oldest living Second World War veteran. I want to take a moment to thank Burd Sisler from Fort Erie, a Second World War veteran.

Thank you for your service.

Applause.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Thank you.

Today’s veterans are not just the faces of history; they are our neighbours, co-workers, friends and family. They are women and men balancing family and service. They are young. They are Indigenous. They are newcomers. They are the living guardians of our freedom, and their courage continues today.

Speaker, I want to acknowledge my colleague the member from Kanata–Carleton for her 31 years of military service—a trailblazer who broke barriers and led with courage.

Applause.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Thank you.

Your example reminds us that service knows no boundaries of gender, background or generation.

Across Ontario, children will stand in silence this week for two quiet minutes in school. May they not simply pause but understand. May they know that remembrance is not about the past alone, but about the freedom they live in today. May they understand the weight of sacrifice, the value of peace, and the importance of honouring those who gave everything.

And when the bugle fades and the only sound is wind through the wreaths—lest we forget. Those three words carry the weight of generations. They are not just a reminder to remember; they are a promise—a promise to care for our veterans, to support their families, and to never take for granted the peace they secure for us. Freedom is not ours by right. It is ours by gift—a gift paid for by those who gave everything.

So this November 11, let us stand not as government or opposition, but as Canadians—stand grateful, humble and united. Let us honour the courage of those who served, the wisdom of those who continue to serve, and those responsibilities we all share to protect freedom and dignity for generations to come.

Lest we forget. We will remember them.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Kanata–Carleton.

Mrs. Karen McCrimmon: In my life, I have had the tremendous privilege of serving the people of Canada and now the people of Ontario. It is a privilege and a responsibility that none of us should ever take for granted. And it is so important that none of us ever forget the sacrifices that were made that allow us to live the kind of lives we live today—lives based on democracy and freedom instead of authoritarian subservience.

In World War I, approximately 61,000 Canadian soldiers lost their lives, and 172,000 were wounded—such an enormous cost for a young nation.

In World War II, 45,000 Canadian soldiers lost their lives, and 54,000 were wounded.

In Afghanistan, 158 Canadian soldiers and seven civilians lost their lives.

The numbers, as striking as they are, can never tell the whole story about the lives that were lost, the lives that were shattered and the families and communities who were devastated. This is a debt we must work hard every day to repay.

Today, there are approximately 86,000 men and women who serve as regular and reserve force members of the Canadian Armed Forces. But I have always believed that when a member serves, so does the family—families who pack up and move and leave the familiar behind in order to support the ones that they love. Deployments, long absences, training—it’s all part of the military family way of life.

Although at this time of year we make a special effort to thank the men and women in uniform, I think we should hold them in our hearts throughout the entire year and always remember to thank their families for their sacrifices so that their loved ones can serve our country.

Speaker, throughout my lifetime, the struggles for democracy and freedom have always been in faraway lands—in Europe, in Asia, in Africa. But now the threat is manifesting itself much closer to home. As I previously said, Canadians who fought and died in conflicts were fighting to protect our freedoms, safeguard our rule of law, on the basic premise that everyone be treated equally and fairly. This freedom must be protected today, and it falls on all of us, the inheritors of this freedom, to defend the gifts that we have been given. We must never forget their sacrifice, but we must never forget what it was that made their sacrifices necessary.

History has shown us that threats to democracy and freedom begin when democratic processes and institutions are usurped and replaced with an authoritarian political system. They initially hide their authoritarian nature behind a veneer of legality, using the democratic system to make the illegal legal and make things that were once outrageous seem normal.

We simply can’t let authoritarianism creep in anywhere. We need strong democratic processes and institutions, an empowered and independent press, and all levels of government that serve the truth and that serve the people, not just corporate interests and the wealthiest among us. All must be defended, fought for and protected over and over again. If we truly honour the Canadians who fought and died for us and those who continue to serve us today, we must do everything we can to stand up against the abuse or degradation of our democratic systems.

I hope that if ever the time comes, if ever we are needed to stand up and fight for our freedom, our rights, our government based on the rule of law, that we have the courage and fortitude to follow the example of thousands of these proud Canadian veterans and earn the freedom they bequeathed to us. We must never forget their sacrifice, and we must never forget why that sacrifice became necessary. We owe them that much.

Lest we forget.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Kitchener Centre.

Ms. Aislinn Clancy: I’m honoured to rise today to pay tribute to our veterans, the first responders and their families who have sacrificed so much to defend democracy and keep us safe here in Canada and around the world.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we gather to remember the moment when the guns fell silent and to honour those who selflessly served our country.

In my riding, I was honoured to be part of a Remembrance Day celebration honouring Sikh soldiers. Many soldiers were injured and died for a nation that discriminated against them, all to pursue a future that is fair and equitable—a future that many of us take for granted.

Today, in honour of the first Sikh soldier who fought and died for Canada, Corporal Buckam Singh, I call on all of us to show respect to every human, no matter their race, creed, gender, ability or identity, so we may have a free and fair Canada.

Let us fight to uphold the principles of democracy, truth and human rights for all—in honour of their lives and sacrifice.

Lest we forget.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Haldimand–Norfolk.

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: Remembrance Day is more than a moment of silence, more than poppies pinned to our lapels. It is a solemn promise—a collective act of gratitude and reflection.

To truly remember is to honour not just the fallen, but the lives they lived, the sacrifices they made and the freedoms they preserved.

Imagine the quiet moments on porches, on train platforms, in kitchens and in fields, when mothers, fathers, sisters and sweethearts stood tall and brave, even as their hearts broke. They folded letters into trembling hands, packed rations and rosaries, and watched their sons, brothers and husbands disappear down the road.

To remember means carrying forward the stories of courage, of ordinary people who did extraordinary things in the face of unimaginable hardship. It means recognizing that the peace we enjoy today was hard won, and that it comes with a responsibility to be kind, to seek understanding, and to stand up for what is right. It also means looking around at our communities—at veterans, their families, and those who continue to serve—and saying with our actions as well as with our words, “We see you. We thank you. We will remember.”

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I would ask that you remain standing for a moment of silence.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): You may be seated.

Before we move on to question period, I’d like to remind all members that phones must not be placed on or inside your desks when you are speaking, as the vibrations do interfere with the chamber’s audio system. Please remove your phones from your desks before you are recognized to speak.

Question Period

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: My question is to the Premier.

Let’s recap where we are at with this government. Since we’ve been back at Queen’s Park over the last few weeks, here’s what we have learned: The government has handed over $100 million that was flowed to clients of the Premier’s campaign manager, Kory Teneycke—the same guy who is apparently actually running this government; $17 million to clients of the Premier’s favourite former staff person, Amin Massoudi; $10 million to the government’s favourite nightclub owner, Zlatko Starkovski, in a fiasco that is now being called “strippergate.”

How many more insiders are we going to see cashing in on the government’s decisions in this next fall economic statement?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: This government, this Premier, will continue to stand up to support the workers of this province.

We have an opportunity coming up, with the fall economic statement, to double down on the work we’re doing through the protecting Ontario fund, to continue working with our tariff-impacted communities.

This Premier and our government will continue to support men and women in construction, men and women in the hospitality sector whom we’ve supported—hit hard by the pandemic. We’ll continue to do that—to protect their jobs, to stand up for the work that they do each and every day, creating opportunities through creating a low-tax environment, creating opportunities through building historic infrastructure that you will see enshrined in the fall economic statement. That’s going to create rewarding opportunities for men and women to earn a better job with a bigger paycheque. We’ll keep supporting them, keep investing in their training, and we will never turn our backs on them.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Supplementary.

Ms. Marit Stiles: We’ve got “strippergate,” and boy, the emperor has got no clothes.

I imagine that none of the members opposite actually imagined themselves having to get up and answer questions about something like this. They didn’t imagine themselves having to go back into their communities and explain why their government is giving money to companies like this.

The government plans are not working for the people of Ontario. That is a fact. It might be working for their friends, for insiders, but it is certainly not working for families who are struggling right now just to pay the bills, struggling to pay for groceries.

When is this Premier going to fire this minister and focus on Ontario’s workers?

Hon. David Piccini: Let’s talk about the facts. That is incorrect, and the articles have acknowledged that that is incorrect.

We know that this fund has strong accountability metrics built within: strict financial controls, monthly reporting, and on-site monitoring. Officials have done that.

In this hospitality support program, we’re talking about employers, some of the largest venues in Toronto that host things like the multi-partisan CJPAC—or, this evening, the True Patriot Love Foundation. We value the men and women who work at the front of house, who work at the back of house of these venues. Hit hard during the pandemic, restaurants were shuttered. We’ll continue to support their training, especially with programs through rounds two and four that met their KPIs, exceeded their KPIs, and received support from officials who’ve assessed them with monthly monitoring. We’ll continue to support those workers.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Final supplementary.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Wow. Dig deeper, Minister—dig deeper.

I’ve got to tell you, there is no answer from the Premier to this because the rot starts at the top. That is the truth.

The government can brag about their record all they want to, but they should try telling that to the almost 800,000 people in Ontario who are currently out of work and looking for jobs.

This morning, I started my day at a food bank, talking to people who are waiting in line. I want to tell you that the people who are using food banks in this province these days, under this Premier’s watch, are folks like the retired engineer I spoke with, nurses, seniors, young families, young working people.

There are a record number of people who are using food banks today in the province of Ontario under this government. And let me tell you, these Ontarians cannot afford to pay to play.

What do these folks need to do to get the attention of your government?

Hon. David Piccini: I appreciate that the member opposite started her day doing that.

I started my day, as well, speaking with men and women in our building trade sectors—the employer bargaining agents that landed historic agreements in our industrial and commercial sector that avoided labour disruption, who are grateful that this Premier has stood up to protect their job sites, for progressive measures to ensure properly fitting personal protective equipment, progressive measures to bring defibrillators on job sites, progressive measures to train their members. Organized labour has supported this Premier because he’s putting their men and women to work.

When I spoke to them this morning, they were grateful for a fall economic statement that’s going to invest in highways, roads and bridges, that’s going to invest in hospitals, that’s going to put their men and women to work.

That’s why organized labour supports this Premier, supports this government—because we’ll keep their members working.

Government’s record

Ms. Marit Stiles: Nurses going to food banks is nothing to be proud of.

I want to talk numbers, because yesterday the Premier called me a liar for sharing some numbers. I understand why he’s feeling a little touchy and a little worked up. I would feel a little insecure too if I was responsible for a crisis of this scale.

Let’s talk some facts: This government has led to the highest unemployment rate we have faced in decades. In September alone, we lost 12,500 retail jobs, 7,300 jobs in construction, 7,100 jobs in public administration. Some 3,800 people in education are currently out of work—3,200 in culture and rec, and 2,000 in the service sector.

Will the Premier face the truth and accept that he has created a jobs disaster in this province?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: One million new jobs. Remember that—to the Leader of the Opposition: one million new jobs since we’ve taken office.

Let’s remind the people of Ontario what happened when the NDP and the Liberals were in charge: 600,000 people lost their jobs.

We’ve grown the population by two million people since we’ve been in office. And we continuously see investments of—$70 billion of investment from around the world.

That would never exist under the NDP and the Liberals, because they were terrified—companies around the world—to come and invest in Ontario. It was the highest tax regime they’ve ever seen—red tape, regulations, highest electricity costs. They weren’t coming to Ontario.

We came into office, and we changed it. We’ve seen tens of billions of dollars of investment. We’re going to continue seeing tens—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Supplementary.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Tell that to all the people lined up at the food banks, okay?

You cannot create enough jobs because you have no jobs plan. We are losing jobs in this province far faster than anyone here has created them, because you have no plan.

If the jobs disaster was not enough, let’s look at another example of this Premier’s mess: record-low housing starts. The government has missed every single one of their housing targets.

And let me tell you, folks working in residential construction right now are telling me they cannot find a job, and you know it. You lost Ontario 25,000 jobs in the first half of this year, and if you don’t fix this mess, there will be 50,000 fewer jobs by the end of this year. It is a jobs disaster.

Will the Premier accept that his housing failure is creating a jobs—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Rob Flack: Let me begin by saying, as I always do—and the member opposite I don’t think gets it—that it takes too long and it costs too much to build housing. We’ve changed that with Bill 17 and now Bill 60. If they would read Bill 60 in detail, they will understand it’s going to help cut the delays.

Let’s take a look specifically at the rental markets. In the last three years, we’ve seen 51,000 new starts in the GTHA. Why? That’s a record—17,000 after three months this year, a 38% increase.

That being said, supply creates competition. Competition creates new rental starts. That’s how it works. We’ve created the environment for this to take place, and that is exactly what we’re going to continue to do.

We’ll continue to look at the details of Bill 60; it’s going to work. Bill 17 is working.

It takes too long, and it costs too much. We’re lowering the cost, and we’re getting more homes built.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Final supplementary.

Ms. Marit Stiles: This government can’t see the forest for the trees.

Every day, there is another headline. Every day, there is another scandal. The government’s only jobs plan is their pay-to-play scheme. Ontarians deserve so much better than this from their government.

I don’t know how the members across the way can go back to their communities and defend this government’s scandals again and again and again. I know for sure that’s not why you ran. That’s not why I ran. We ran to fix things for people—for regular people, for working people.

Speaker, I hope that these members go back to their ridings next week and take an ethics check, a morality check, because this government has become morally bankrupt.

To the Premier: Are we finally going to see a real jobs plan in this fall economic statement? Is he going to undo this jobs disaster for Ontarians?

Hon. Doug Ford: Again, I’ll just repeat—the million jobs. In just September, there were over 44,700 new jobs, and 22,000 in August. We’ve created the environment by reducing the cost of doing business by $12 billion a year.

I would like to put a little challenge to all the parties, including ourselves. Let’s talk to every CEO of every major corporation, every small business, every medium business. Who would you want sitting on your board running your company? Would you want the NDP, the Liberals, or do you want the PC government? It’s not 99%—100% of every corporation, small, medium or large, would pick the PC government, creating more jobs, more economic—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order.

Hon. Doug Ford: Do you know something? We went back to our ridings—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order.

Hon. Doug Ford: Madam Speaker, do I get to speak?

Interjections.

Hon. Doug Ford: Okay. Just calm down and let me speak. You will get your turn.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order.

We move on to the leader of the third party for questions.

Government accountability

Mr. John Fraser: It’s another day, and it’s the same old story. We’ve been talking about the same thing for about three weeks now. I never thought I’d be talking about what I’m talking about for the last three weeks.

Interjections.

Mr. John Fraser: It’s not funny. None of this is funny.

Our pages are going to go home after today. We’ve got to think about what the pages are going to say when they go home, when their friends ask, “What happened? What did you hear?” We’ve got to think about them—the ones in the gallery.

We know that the Premier and his party, or whoever, gave $10 million to the owner of a strip club. It was part of $27 million that they gave to bars and nightclubs in downtown Toronto. We know that $17 million was given to another group. I will follow up in my supplementary about whether or not the Premier’s office was involved.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Response? The Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, when they go home, they’ll see false and misleading statements made by that member. That’s what they will—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I’ll ask the minister to withdraw.

Hon. David Piccini: Withdraw.

They’ll see a government that stood up in the face of the pandemic for hospitality workers, front and back of house, to invest in their training at some of the largest centres in downtown Toronto—centres every member of this House has been in.

They’ll see a Premier who’s fighting for lower taxes, who’s fighting to attract investments, who’s the only one standing up to a bully south of the border. They’ll see a Premier making record investments, who’s putting unionized men and women to work, non-unionized men and women to work in the construction sector.

Those same unions invited those members—and I hope on constituency week they actually take up people like Victoria Mancinelli, who has invited you to her training centres. She has heard nothing back. She’ll be in the House later today. I hope the members take her up on the opportunity to visit some of the—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the leader of the third party for the supplementary.

Mr. John Fraser: We know that Scale Hospitality got $17 million from the Premier and his government. And we know that Amin Massoudi—a familiar name; a familiar flyer, if you want to call him that—was the Premier’s principal secretary at a time when this organization received a $5-million grant that was close to the deadline, on the back of a napkin, and he intervened. The question is really easy. Amin Massoudi was the Premier’s principal secretary. Did the Premier ask him to do exactly just that?

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, I’ll tell you what this Premier does. This Premier visits job sites all the time with members of this caucus, talking to workers, seeing how we can better create the conditions to create economic productivity, to drive productivity and economic opportunity in this province. We’ve supported workers of all different job sites.

When that member denigrates hospitality workers, he turns his back on men and women of Unite Here working hard to support opportunities for newcomers. He turns his back on construction workers.

Again, you’ve had the opportunity; you’ve been invited to see the training centres this Premier is investing in. But you actually have to commit to building roads, bridges and highways. You actually have to commit to building long-term care—something that member knows a lot about, because he built none of them when he had the opportunity. You have to commit to building hospitals, highways—all of those things this government is doing.

New nuclear in my community? Not a chance. They shut them down. They put those men and women out of work. Not this Premier; not this government—we’re going to create those jobs.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: All of this sounds pretty oddly familiar. If you remember the greenbelt, the Premier’s director of housing policy had to resign because he was deeply involved in the rot that was there.

So we’ve seen this movie before. It’s actually more like a series. I don’t know if we’re in season 2 or season 3. What we found out in season 1 was that all roads lead directly to the Premier’s office. And now, whatever season we’re in, the same is true: All roads lead directly to the Premier’s office.

So I just want to ask again: Did the Premier ask his principal secretary to intervene on behalf of the organization to get the $5-million grant that was on the back of an envelope, at the last minute? Yes or no? Simple answer.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, the only rot that exists is in that party, who’ve had three weeks to actually bring forward a plan for jobs, to actually bring forward a plan that’s going to protect our tariff-impacted sectors. They’ve had opportunities; they’ve never done a thing.

They have an opportunity today to support a fall economic statement—a fall economic statement that’s going to continue to invest in infrastructure and make historic investments in sectors of the economy that they abandoned; workers in the manufacturing sector who they turned their back on when they drove 300,000 jobs out of this province.

The only thing they’re good at is smears and taxes—taxing the good people of this province. One hand in the right pocket, one hand in the left pocket—that’s all they’re good for.

This Premier and this government are making historic investments. You’ll have the opportunity to support them—that’s going to put men and women to work—later today. I hope you’ll take that opportunity.

Government accountability

Mr. John Fraser: I’m going to refer back to my question yesterday about the $10 million that the Premier gave his friend who owns a strip club. The minister responded and said it’s not a strip club. The fact is, it has the same licence as the Brass Rail—it’s a few blocks away, Premier—and the same workers as the Brass Rail. Their tag line is “for those where discretion is a must.”

When I look across at folks over here, I see people who don’t want to be any part of this. I know people don’t want to be any part of this.

Will the Premier commit to opening the book on these grants so we can see why his minister gave the last two rounds of skills development funding to the owner of a strip club?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, when that member makes statements like that that he knows are false, he denigrates the—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Withdraw.

Hon. David Piccini: Withdraw—denigrates those men and women who work in those sectors; the men and women who’ve been supported through rounds two to four—over 700 workers, exceeding their KPIs.

We don’t pit worker against worker on this side of the House. Whether you’re a barber, a hospitality worker, whether you’re working in the construction sector or working in a corporation, working on Bay Street or working on Main Street, we don’t care.

We see value in every worker of this province and have a fund to support them, and we’re not going to apologize for that.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Supplementary.

Mr. John Fraser: Well, it’s not an apology to us; it’s an apology to the people of Ontario. It’s an apology to the kids up here, the kids over there. It’s an apology to families. That’s what it is.

It’s unbelievable. I never thought I would be saying in this place, “Why did the Premier and his party give $10 million to the owner of a strip club?”—money that was supposed to lift people up, give them jobs, and lift women up. Instead, the Premier has let us all down.

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg. So will the Premier commit to himself having an independent forensic audit, or do we have to call the RCMP in again?

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, it’s a shame the young people here have to hear that member.

But what I’ll tell those young people is, if you’re looking for opportunity—these young people will know Level Up! It’s a career fair. We’ve launched them in every corner of this province. Last night, in Hamilton, we had over a thousand people there to try to get hands-on experience to enter a trade—a trade that you’ll actually have a job in. Why? Because this Premier is actually building public transit. A job you’ll have, perhaps, working in our nuclear sector—small modular reactors. We’re leading the world—new nuclear, nuclear that they would have shut down; jobs in the mining sector that they had over a decade to unlock, that they didn’t. So these youth need to know—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order. Order. Order. The leader of the third party will come to order.

Hon. David Piccini: —whether it’s the additional nurses we’ve licensed, the new doctors we’re going to need in our hospitals, the new boilermakers we’re going to need in our new nuclear plants, you’ve got opportunity in Doug Ford’s Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Final supplementary?

Mr. John Fraser: You’ve got Amin Massoudi and Kory Teneycke setting up toll booths in front of the Skills Development Fund and whatever else—it was in front of the greenbelt before. You have the minister’s riding association going from $50,000 to half a million dollars a year. You have donations that come after people got a grant. You’ve got $10 million to a strip club, $17 million or $5 million for a last-minute application on the back of a napkin that the Premier’s principal secretary intervenes on. What else do we need?

Somebody over there, tell me, what else do we need to get to the bottom of this? We need a forensic audit or we need to call in the cops, get the Mounties in.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, I’m pleased to see that member leading that party—and he’ll stay as interim leader after they recycle through leaders—bringing ideas like this to this place, bringing ideas like that.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The leader of the third party will come to order.

Hon. David Piccini: They’ve offered nothing, nothing for Ontario workers—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The leader of the third party will come to order.

Hon. David Piccini: They’ve pitted worker against worker. They’ve denigrated men and women in our hospitality sector—men and women who serve us, men and women who make beds in hotels. We value them. We see them. We will support them. We value men and women on our job sites—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The leader of the third party has been warned.

Hon. David Piccini: —men and women he should actually come and visit.

When we’re back, I’ll be visiting job sites. And I will challenge that member: Join me on job sites to visit the men and women you turned your back on when you didn’t build hospitals, when you didn’t build roads and bridges, when you didn’t build long-term-care homes and you didn’t make investments—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Ottawa West–Nepean.

Government accountability

Ms. Chandra Pasma: My question is to the Premier. This week, we learned that it’s not just the Skills Development Fund that’s handing out lucrative deals to Conservative donors and friends. The Minister of Education is giving his hand-picked, unqualified supervisors, all of whom have a close connection to the Conservatives, $350,000 a year—$350,000 to ignore phone calls from parents, skip meetings and hide from the public. That’s quite the family-and-friends deal.

Is the Premier okay with his Minister of Education taking money out of classrooms to give sweet contracts to Conservative insiders?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Education.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I’ve been feeling like the Maytag Man. It’s maybe my second question on education since we got back, which leads me to believe that the NDP are actually in favour of the things that I’m doing, Madam Speaker.

But it’s actually funny to get a question on accountability from that member because that member, as you will know, and the entire opposition—the Liberals and NDP together—when they had an opportunity to fire a school trustee who went on an all-expenses-paid trip to Michelin restaurants in Italy, that member chose, along with the rest of that caucus, to sit on their hands and to do everything they possibly could to protect that trustee.

Now, that was an over $200,000 bill to the taxpayer, money out of the classroom, but the NDP and the Liberals support that type of behaviour. I don’t support that behaviour. That’s why I was going to fire that trustee, and all of these caucus members here supported me in that decision—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Ottawa West–Nepean.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: I understand why the minister would rather talk about literally anything else; I wouldn’t want to defend these contracts either.

Speaker, let’s review the record of these Conservative donors, candidates, staffers and MPPs who have replaced our democratically elected trustees: They won’t answer questions from parents. They’ve tried to hide their contact information. They refuse to attend committee meetings. They tell the media that they don’t have to speak to them. No one knows what they are doing.

Is the Premier on board with the Minister of Education’s project here to pay his friends $350,000 a year to shut parents out of decisions affecting our kids?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Minister of Education.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Do you know who knows what they’re doing? The parents, teachers and the students, in particular in her riding. The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board—I’ve referred to it as an absolute hot mess. You could not keep trustees in office for more than five minutes because—you know what? They were retiring, resigning; they were fighting with each other. Now, they weren’t just taking money out of the classroom at that board; they were spending millions of dollars fighting each other—fighting each other. And do you know what the parents have told us in Ottawa? “Thank God you put a supervisor in place to bring the board back on track.”

I will say this, Madam Speaker: It’s not just about restoring balance to the place. It’s about restoring hope and opportunity, opportunity that comes when teachers have the resources that they need to allow our students to succeed and the peace that comes from parents who know that a board is focused on their kids’ success and not on failed NDP fighting at the school board level. We’ll take it over and we’ll do the right thing by parents—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Don Valley North.

Government accountability

Mr. Jonathan Tsao: Speaker, my question is for the Premier. The other night I went to a neighbourhood association meeting in my riding of Don Valley North, and, unfortunately, Speaker, I gave an update on what this government has been doing:

(1) The Conservative government is ripping out speed cameras that keep their kids safe.

(2) They’re making it easier for corporate landlords to throw families out on the street.

(3) The Minister of Labour is treating their tax dollars like a personal piggy bank, giving $10 million to the owner of a downtown strip club.

Speaker, people are losing trust in this government, and it’s easy to see why. Will the Premier do the right thing, restore trust and fire his Minister of Labour?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Here’s a quick

summary for that member of what this government is achieving, especially in his own backyard. The Ontario Line: shovels in the ground in every single one of those stations and tunnelling projects. That’s 4,700 good-paying jobs that that project is supporting and that that member has voted against.

The Scarborough subway extension, Madam Speaker, is another project that we marked a huge milestone on: over 3,000 jobs we’re supporting with that project that that member has voted against.

We’re getting rid of the bike lanes, Madam Speaker, to improve how people can get to and from work, whether it’s Avenue Road, whether it’s Bloor Street or whether it’s Yonge Street. We’re getting the people of this city moving.

Highway 413, Bradford Bypass: two projects that we’ve marked significant milestones on over the past couple of weeks—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Supplementary?

People don’t want these political games and this double-speak. They want a government that is accountable, and I can guarantee—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Withdraw.

Mr. Jonathan Tsao: Withdrawn.

I can guarantee you this, Speaker: They certainly do not want their hard-earned tax dollars ending up in the pockets of a downtown strip club owner.

Speaker, I’ll ask once more: Will this Premier finally end this 50 shades of shame and restore honour to this House by firing this Minister of Labour?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, we see honour in the everyday work of men and women in every sector of the economy. We launched a fund in the wake of a pandemic when we shuttered businesses to support and kickstart those key elements of the economy.

We get in this place every day to bring forward ideas to put men and women of this province to work, and we’re proud of the work that we’re doing to support expanding training centres in every corner of Ontario, to support getting men and women into meaningful careers—like our veterans, who are doing wonderful work with our Coding for Veterans program. Jeff Musson is here, doing a great job. Helmets to Hardhats: supporting them reintegrating in employment. True Patriot Love: supporting veterans with wraparound supports.

We will keep supporting men and women of Ontario with meaningful jobs, meaningful job opportunities and better—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Ontario economy

Mr. John Jordan: My question is for the Minister of Finance. Ontario’s economy is stronger today because our government delivers real results and puts Ontario’s interests first. We are protecting our workers, supporting our businesses and staying focused on building a strong future.

But the world is less stable today. Global tensions are rising. Supply chains are shifting. We have seen continued threats of tariffs from President Donald Trump. These economic threats don’t just affect numbers on a page, they put Ontario jobs, families and communities at risk. We cannot afford to be passive. We must act to protect our province and our future.

Speaker, can the minister please explain how the fall economic statement is protecting Ontario’s economy, supporting workers and businesses in the face of these global challenges?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Peterborough–Kawartha.

Mr. Dave Smith: Our government acted early in the face of tariffs and the economic uncertainty. We’ve already announced nearly $30 billion in relief and supports for tariff-impacted businesses to unleash our economy. The money is already flowing right now to workers and businesses through our $5-billion Protect Ontario account to support our most impacted sectors, and also through our $50-million Ontario Together Trade Fund to help small and medium enterprises across our communities and more.

Madam Speaker, we will continue to protect Ontario from the uncertainty and deliver a strong economy that creates jobs, attracts global investment and strengthens our position as Canada’s economic engine.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for supplementary.

Mr. John Jordan: Thank you to the member from Peterborough–Kawartha for his response.

Families and workers across Ontario want stability. They want a government that will stand strong when the world around us becomes uncertain. We know that Donald Trump’s threats of new US tariffs can have real impacts on our communities. They are hurting our auto plants, manufacturers, small businesses and the families who rely on those paycheques. Ontario cannot be caught off guard. We must keep building a strong and competitive economy that protects jobs now and for years to come.

Speaker, can the parliamentary assistant please share how the fall economic statement will continue our plan to protect workers, support growth and secure Ontario’s economic future?

Mr. Dave Smith: Thank you to the member from Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston for his question.

Even in the face of uncertainty and US tariffs, our government will not falter. The mission is clear: We must strengthen our economy, we must drive innovation, and we must protect the families, workers and businesses in this province.

Madam Speaker, later on this afternoon, the Minister of Finance will release the 2025 fall economic statement, A Plan to Protect Ontario. This is the next step in our plan for our province’s prosperity today and for the next

chapter in our vision for generations to come. Together, we will continue to protect jobs, unleash the economy and make Ontario the most competitive and attractive place in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business.

Highway safety

MPP Lise Vaugeois: In the last nine months, there have been 559 closures of northwestern Ontario highways, many caused by commercial trucking accidents. The Minister of Transportation has said that inspection stations should be staffed 24/7. Yet, our brand new $30-million inspection station in Shuniah is almost never open.

Through you, Speaker, to the Premier: Why are you failing to staff our inspection stations?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Let me share some stats with that member. When we took over as government, there were only 19 TEOs—transportation enforcement officers—in the north. Today, there are over 50 transportation enforcement officers. And guess what? Every single time the NDP had an opportunity to vote for an increase in transportation enforcement officers, especially in Thunder Bay, where that member also resides, she voted against those investments into transportation enforcement officers.

We’ve conducted over 90,000 inspections to date since January, up over 35% from last year, because of the investments that we have made into safety and into commercial vehicle inspections. Unfortunately, every single time that we’ve put forward measures to support highway improvements in Thunder Bay, to increase safety measures in Thunder Bay on our roads, that member has voted against her own community and her own interests every single time.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Timiskaming–Cochrane.

Mr. John Vanthof: This government has been in power for almost 10 years, and the reason we vote against their measures is because they’re not working.

Highway 11, from North Bay to Cochrane, in the first nine months of this year, was closed for 31 days, the Trans-Canada. The minister yesterday said, “Well, that’s because the police closed them. The OPP closed them.” The OPP doesn’t just close them for fun. They close them because of accidents, because of people getting run off the roads by badly trained cross-country truck drivers. And they close them because this highway hasn’t been rebuilt in years.

The Premier actually agreed, because in February, he came to the riding and said that they were going to rebuild from North Bay to Cochrane, a 2+1. My question is: Is that going to be in the fall economic statement or is it simply a lip-service promise for northern Ontario?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Madam Speaker, that was in the budget that we tabled when we came back into this House. And guess what? That member voted against that budget. You’ll have another opportunity to vote and support that measure in the fall economic statement, the 2+1 from North Bay to Cochrane. I wonder how that member will now vote.

If his record or his history says anything, he will likely vote against that, just like he has voted against the four-laning of Highway 17 and our investments into the Ring of Fire to build and develop the northern communities. Over $600 million last year went into the north to support investments into infrastructure on our roads, highways and bridges, and that member voted against every single one of them.

Whether it’s increasing the number of transportation enforcement officers in the north or whether it’s investing in our roads, highways and our bridges in the north, that member has voted against it every single time. Shame.

Supportive housing

Mr. Rob Cerjanec: In Ajax, Durham region officials are dealing with an encampment that the region said represents a critical situation requiring urgent action. Durham now has had at least 180 more people experiencing homelessness than when this government was re-elected in February. I fear what’s going to happen this