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December 2, 2024

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2024-Dec-02 (PDF)

L189 - Mon 2 Dec 2024 / Lun 2 déc 2024

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 2 December 2024 Lundi 2 décembre 2024

Members’ Statements

Public skating events

Food banks

Personnel des bureaux de circonscription de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell

New Democratic Party

Hockey

Indigenous relations and reconciliation

Christmas tree lighting

Holiday message

World Junior Hockey Championship

Jaswinder Singh Khosa

Introduction of Visitors

Question Period

Government accountability

Health care

Child and family services

Job creation

Residential schools

Taxation

Child care

Health care

Research and innovation

Health care

Health care

Public safety

Public transit

Electronic service delivery

Retirement homes

Jim Jessop

Visitors

Deferred Votes

Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à accroître la sécurité dans les rues et à renforcer les collectivités

Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à réduire les formalités administratives et à favoriser l’essor de l’Ontario

Day of Reflection for Indian Residential Schools Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la Journée de réflexion sur les pensionnats indiens

Estimates / Supplementary estimates

Introduction of Visitors

Introduction of Government Bills

More Convenient Care Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 pour plus de soins commodes

Introduction of Bills

Protecting Seniors’ Rights in Care Homes Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la protection des droits des personnes âgées dans les maisons de soins

Motions

House sittings

Petitions

Public transit

Social assistance

Sexual violence and harassment

Employment standards

Access to health care

Addiction services

Addiction services

Addiction services

House sittings

Orders of the Day

Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à accroître la sécurité dans les rues et à renforcer les collectivités

Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à réduire les formalités administratives et à favoriser l’essor de l’Ontario

Estimates

Affordable Energy Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur l’énergie abordable

The House met at 1015.

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

Prayers.

Members’ Statements

Public skating events

Mr. Brian Riddell: Good morning, Speaker. What is more Canadian than skating? Winter in Canada is synonymous with skating, a tradition that brings us together as families and communities. I’m excited to host three free community skates this winter, offering families a chance to enjoy the season and perhaps discover a passion for skating. For kids, it’s a chance to try out something new, and for parents, a chance to share in the joy of the season.

Cambridge has a rich sporting history, particularly in skating. Our sports hall of fame has inducted 82 athletes excelling in hockey, figure skating and speed skating, contributing both to local and national sports culture. One such athlete is Kirk Maltby, a three-time Stanley Cup champion who brought great pride to Cambridge.

I encourage everyone to join us at these free skates, whether you’re a seasoned skater or a first timer. Let’s celebrate the Canadian spirit and support the next generation of athletes.

Food banks

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Speaker, more Londoners than ever are struggling this holiday season, and today I want to recognize just a few of the many London West faith communities whose caring volunteers are making spirits just a little bit brighter.

I recently visited St. Michael and All Angels community cupboard, a year-round emergency food bank that is stocked, in part, with food from their own gardens. The cupboard is located outside the church doors and available 24/7 to anyone who needs it.

St. John the Divine parish also operates a 24/7 community fridge and offers weekly community meals as part of the Springbank Catholic Family of Parishes. This season, they’re also supporting hundreds of families with Christmas hampers.

St. George’s parish is also providing Christmas hampers of food and gifts to families in need and partners with Byron Community Church, Byron United and St. Anne’s Anglican to operate the Byron Cares food bank.

Gateway Church in Hyde Park will open its doors on Christmas Day for a free community meal, welcoming everyone to enjoy music, games and the spirit of togetherness.

Finally, a much-needed Halal food bank will launch this weekend in London, and it’s already serving hundreds of families with support from the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario, local businesses and the London Food Bank.

On behalf of our community, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the generous gifts of time and donations that make these programs possible.

To everyone in London West, may you have a merry Christmas and a safe and joyful holiday.

Personnel des bureaux de circonscription de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell

M. Stéphane Sarrazin: C’est une chance pour moi aujourd’hui de pouvoir prendre la parole en Chambre. C’est une journée spéciale, car j’ai la chance d’accueillir plusieurs membres de mon équipe qui sont ici en formation à Queen’s Park. J’aimerais vous présenter mon équipe, les gens qui servent les résidents de la circonscription de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell. Je vous présente Noémie Prevost, Emilie Sabourin et Vanessa Trottier, qui servent les bureaux de Hawkesbury, Alexandria, Casselman et Rockland, ainsi qu’Isaure Vorstman, qui travaille à mon bureau ici à Toronto. J’aimerais faire mention que nous avons aussi Claudie Menard qui n’a pas pu être ici à Queen’s Park aujourd’hui.

Nous avons récemment participé à une exposition commerciale dans la ville de Hawkesbury. Ça a été vraiment une belle opportunité de rencontrer plusieurs résidents et je dois dire que beaucoup de ces gens nous ont félicité et étaient reconnaissants pour les services offerts à nos bureaux de circonscription. Même si c’est moi qui a eu la chance de recevoir les compliments, je comprends très bien que c’est grâce à l’excellent travail de mon équipe.

Pour les gens qui ne savent pas, Glengarry–Prescott–Russell s’étend sur une superficie de 3 000 kilomètres carrés, juste un petit peu moins que la moitié de la superficie de toute la région du grand Toronto, la GTA, qui comprend 42 circonscriptions. Je veux profiter de cette occasion aujourd’hui pour remercier les membres de mon équipe pour leur travail incroyable; sûrement une des meilleures équipes, ou la meilleure équipe. Merci pour tout ce que vous faites pour les résidents de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, et bienvenue à Queen’s Park.

New Democratic Party

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: What does it mean to be a New Democrat? To be a New Democrat is to believe in a Canada where progress is built on courage and compassion, where leadership means standing up for fairness and leaving no one behind. Tommy Douglas, the first social democratic leader of a government on this continent showed us what leadership looks like.

The first thing he did as Premier of Saskatchewan was to balance the budget to save the province from bankruptcy. Then, he electrified rural Saskatchewan, knowing that these communities needed modern infrastructure to thrive. And after that, he introduced medicare, a gift that has shaped our identity as Canadians. But Douglas didn’t stop there. He brought in public auto insurance, ensured collective bargaining rights, removed taxes from essentials and so much more. His approach embodied fiscal responsibility, paired with social justice—the belief that government can and should lift people up. These are the bold, people-first policies that define New Democrats.

Being a New Democrat today means carrying forward that legacy of courage and care. It means standing up for universal health care, tackling affordability and taking on the climate crisis, all while being fiscally responsible and keeping people at the heart of every decision. Tommy Douglas once said, “Courage, my friends; ’tis not too late to build a better world.” To be a New Democrat is to believe in that better world and work for it every single day.

Hockey

Mr. Brian Saunderson: It’s hockey season across Ontario and in my riding of Simcoe–Grey that means something. We have a long history—a proud history—in hockey and we have active and vibrant programs that run throughout the towns and villages in my riding. As we approach Christmas, and as I left Collingwood last night, we were getting our first big snowstorm so it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas up there, and farther north they had over 100 centimetres of snow this weekend.

It’s the midpoint of the hockey season, and the old rivalries are heating up in junior hockey in my riding of Simcoe–Grey. In the provincial junior league, which is considered Junior C, the Alliston Hornets have yet to lose a game. They are a perfect 19-0 this season. And further north, in the town of Stayner, the Siskins, who play in the same division, are 16-4. These two teams have a long and proud history of exciting games in the league final, and it looks like they’re setting it up for this year as well.

In Collingwood, the junior Blues are the 2024 Centennial Cup winners—national champions, number one in the country out of 67 teams. They’re also two-time Buckland Cup champions, as provincial champions in 2023 and 2024. This year, with more than half the team turnover, the Blues are currently second in their division and ranked 10th in Canada. Most recently, we have learned that the coaching staff—Andrew Campoli as assistant coach, and Richard Judges as equipment manager—have been named to the Canada East team for the World Junior A Challenge, which will take place December 9 to 15.

They have named to the team seven of the Collingwood Blues players. It’s a testament to the vibrant, active hockey and junior programs that we have in Simcoe–Grey.

Indigenous relations and reconciliation

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker. When Phyllis Webstad was sent to an Indian residential school in 1973, her grandma brought her a new orange shirt. When she arrived at the school, she was stripped of her clothes and her orange shirt was taken away. She says that, “The colour orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.”

Phyllis created Orange Shirt Day on September 30 to create meaningful reflection on the impacts and legacy of Indian residential schools and to affirm that every child matters.

Last Thursday, Florence Morrison and Pauline Cheena arrived at Queen’s Park, after travelling 24 hours from one of the most northern parts of the province to attend the debate of my private member’s bill. Both Florence and Pauline are survivors of the Indian residential school system and this was their first time at Queen’s Park. They were wearing orange shirts that said, “Every Child Matters.”

After they’d been here for a few hours, security informed us that they had to remove their shirts if they wanted to watch the debate in the chamber. Asking two survivors to remove their orange shirts is a form of colonialism, a form of denialism. We cannot deny the place of Indian residential schools in our country’s history. We cannot reinforce the patterns of colonialism and cultural genocide or systemic inhumanity against Indigenous people on this land. It is for this reason that we must have a day for Ontarians to reflect on the impacts of Indian residential schools so we do not forget.

Christmas tree lighting

Mr. Ric Bresee: I’m thrilled to share some festive news that brings great pride to my entire community in Hastings–Lennox and Addington. There is a tradition for Toronto’s official Christmas tree which was lit this last weekend—that tradition began in 1983. But this year, like most years since 2013, this beautiful, 55-foot, giant balsam fir comes straight from our own little town of Bancroft. It was the main highlight for the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Phillips Square, where the city’s official holiday celebrations begin. This event, held every year since 1967, marks the lighting of the tree and kicks off the holiday season here in Toronto.

I understand that getting this tree to Toronto was no small feat. The tree was carefully selected to make the three and a half hour journey through the twisting roads and steep hills, safely bringing a piece of Bancroft right here to this city. Hastings–Lennox and Addington has a proud history of forestry, having played a significant role in the local economy for generations. From the early days of logging to today’s commitment to sustainable forest management, our region has long been a steward of the land and I’m truly proud to see a piece of our riding prominently displayed in Nathan Phillips Square.

Congratulations to all involved in making this possible, for sharing a piece of Bancroft with the city of Toronto and happy holidays to everyone.

Holiday message

Mrs. Karen McCrimmon: It’s been a tough few years. Everyone is feeling stressed and stretched and worried. There’s lots of negativity out there, designed to provoke fear, anger, resentment, even rage. But negativity has never solved a single problem or brought us any relief from our challenges.

My mother’s favourite saying was, “It’s not happiness that makes you grateful. It’s gratefulness that makes you happy.” And we have so much to be grateful for.

I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays, and may love, joy and peace be the gifts we give each other. Take care, everyone.

World Junior Hockey Championship

Mr. John Jordan: Speaker, we are just days away from the holiday season gatherings with family and friends, food, gift exchanges and carols. And on Boxing Day, many Ontarians will pull on their red and white jerseys and find their lucky spot on the couch for one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year: the 2024-25 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Speaker, this year’s world juniors will celebrate hockey in Ottawa for the first time since 2009, with a tournament taking place from December 26 to January 5, along with exhibition games in neighbouring communities including Kingston, Brockville, Cornwall, Belleville, Arnprior and Hawkesbury.

In December of last year, the province of Ontario and the Minister of Sport announced a $4-million investment for the 2025 world juniors to benefit the planning and delivery of this event, giving fans of all ages the opportunity to enjoy watching the stars of tomorrow close to home.

Congratulations to the town of Carleton Place in my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston. They’ll be hosting Team Kazakhstan for pre-tournament camps ahead of the holiday hockey tradition. A big shout-out to Mayor Toby Randell, our new warden in Lanark county, staff and many volunteers for making the team feel welcome over the coming days.

Of course, we’ll be cheering on Team Canada. For the first time since 2017, Canada will play the US on New Year’s Eve. Thank you, Speaker, and good luck to Team Canada.

Jaswinder Singh Khosa

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: It’s great to rise this morning and give a member’s statement. Speaker, as we approach the holiday season, we’re reminded of the true spirit of Christmas, a time of joy, generosity and compassion for one another. It’s a season that inspires us to reflect on the values that bind us together as Canadians: kindness, community and the shared responsibility of support for those in need.

Today, I’d like to recognize Mr. Jaswinder Singh Khosa from Brampton East, whose tireless efforts embody the spirit of giving. Every Sunday, Mr. Khosa organizes soup kitchens at Allan Gardens in Toronto, providing warm meals for those facing hunger and homelessness. His unwavering commitment is a shining example of what it means to give back.

Speaker, Mr. Jaswinder Singh’s work goes beyond simply serving meals. It’s about creating a sense of belonging and reminding others that they are seen, valued and cared for. His dedication has inspired countless others in our community to join him, showing that even small acts of kindness can ripple out to create meaningful change.

As we celebrate the holidays, let’s all strive to follow Mr. Jaswinder Singh’s example by finding ways to give back whether through volunteering, supporting local charities or simply lending a helping hand to a neighbour in need. Together, we can make this season brighter for everyone.

Thank you, Speaker, and a heartfelt thank you to Jaswinder Singh Khosa and his family, and others like him who continue to remind us what the holiday spirit truly means.

Introduction of Visitors

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Before we move on to introduction of visitors, I would like to take the time to introduce, not only a former colleague of many of the members in the House today, but she’s also my former colleague at CHCH Television, Jennifer Mossop, who represented the riding of Stoney Creek in the 38th Parliament. Welcome back, Jennifer.

Hon. Mike Harris: I know we’re going to have a lot of introductions today as we have a lot of folks here from our constituency offices. I wanted to welcome two people from my constituency office here today, Kimberley Dullard and Natasha Kecskemeti, who are sitting up in the gallery up here. Also, I wanted to give a big shout-out to Luke Fuendling who is holding down the fort back home.

And, if you’ll indulge me, today’s page captain is William Banbury—I see him over there; we’re going to embarrass him a little bit—and his mom Leslie Toews; his grandma Lorraine Toews; and Felicity Banbury, who some of us may remember from being a former page last year.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: I want to welcome everyone here for hospice day: the hospice palliative care network of Ontario. I particularly would like to welcome, from my riding, Danielle Zucchet. Danielle is with the Kemp Care Network, and they are working very hard to build Keaton’s House, which will be a children’s hospice in my riding. They’re doing fantastic work. We welcome you here and thank you once again for all the work you do on behalf of Ontarians.

Mr. John Yakabuski: In the Speaker’s gallery today I have two important visitors for me: my sister Marlene Yakabuski—Marlene was a staff member for former MPP Margaret Marland some years ago and today is a constituent of MPP Cuzzetto; also joining Marlene is my brother Lawrie, who is a constituent of Minister Calandra, but also was a frequent visitor to Queen’s Park when my father, Paul, was the MPP from 1963 to 1987. So welcome them to Queen’s Park.

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to introduce a group of very hard-working cardiology technologists from the Ontario Society of Cardiology Technologists, including their president, Blair Arnold. We have Kaila Kaldma, Karen Rondinelli, Katherine Spratt, John French, Rajinder Virk, Katie Cosentino, Kirsten Krose, as well as Ashley Oriet. Welcome to your House. Thank you for what you do.

Mr. John Fraser: I would like to welcome some members from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, including Dipti Purbhoo, Rick Firth, Lisa Kronenberg, Jennifer Mossop, Margaret Paan, Janette Panhuis, Pam Blackwood and Melissa Horner. They have a reception at lunchtime today, and I hope everybody can stop by.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Introduction of visitors? I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you very much, Speaker, and great to see you in the chair this morning.

I would like to welcome my amazing staff from the Simcoe North constituency office: Jacqueline Bayley, Leslie Stroud, Hannah Jones and Eric Sterling and his fiancé, Allie. Thanks for being here this morning.

Miss Monique Taylor: I would like to welcome some guests who are here with us today from Hamilton: my executive assistant, Heather Lambert-Hillen, and my constituency assistants Joanne Stanojevich and Caydie Maerz—and a very special happy birthday to Caydie on your first visit to Queen’s Park. Enjoy your day.

Hon. Sam Oosterhoff: I have a few wonderful people from the constituency office here today: Marietta Linde, Samuel Van Geest, and joining us in a few minutes, Michael Zwiep. Thank you so much for all you do and welcome to Queen’s Park.

MPP Jamie West: Up above in the west gallery, you will find my OLIP intern, James Liao, joining us at Queen’s Park. Welcome to the House, James.

Mr. Ted Hsu: I would like to welcome today two members of my staff in my constituency office in Kingston and the Islands: Ivanna Kazantsev and Alastair Munro. It’s great to have you working here with me this week.

Hon. David Piccini: I would like to welcome to Queen’s Park Ben Williams, who’s up in the gallery, down from my constituency office, and to Bonnie and Allie—on her first day—who are holding the fort down back in Port Hope.

Ms. Doly Begum: I’m delighted to introduce fierce women leaders, advocates in my community. We have here with us Sultana Jahangir, Jinnat Basher, Kishower Laila, Nusrat Jahan, Munir Jahan and Shanjana Rahman. Welcome to the Legislature.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Introduction of visitors? I recognize the government House leader.

Mr. Steve Clark: Thanks, Speaker. It’s great to see you in the chair today.

I want to welcome members of my constituency office: Erin Merkley, Michael Jiggins, Jo-Anne Hanley and Alishia VanderMey. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I want to welcome some outstanding student leaders from across the province who are at Queen’s Park today to support my motion on the reimplementation of the Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey. We have, from the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, Cyrielle Ngeleka, Rawan Habib and Kayla Weiler; from College Student Alliance, Olivia Villeneuve; from Ontario Student Voices: Lynn Courville, Olamipo Ogunnote and Alex Oestreicher; from Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance: Maya Hobbs and Malika Dhanani; and from Western University Student Council, Michelle Wodchis-Johnson and Emilie Kalaydjian. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Steve Pinsonneault: I’d like to introduce Kara Carther from my Wallaceburg office constit staff; Jeanue Chung from my Toronto office; Michelle Dwyer and Tracey Everitt from my Strathroy office got delayed on the train and couldn’t make it, but they’re going to get here for lunch.

Hon. Michael Parsa: I’m very excited to announce and welcome Anna Nguyen, my incredible constituency office manager. Thank you so much, Anna, for everything you do and welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: When she’s not mushing her dog sled or elbowing her way around the roller derby rink or taking care of Indiana and Beau and her husband Matt, Keri Buttle works in our constituency office and takes care of everything there.

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: Good morning to all. I wish to welcome to the House today a leading member of our agricultural community in Port Perry, Ms. Kirsten Kirby, as well as Mr. Steven Dubrick, a director with the Holy Name of Mary College School from here in Toronto.

Hon. Kevin Holland: I’d like to welcome to the House today my constituency assistant and nearly lifelong friend Jennifer Pinder.

Hon. Vijay Thanigasalam: I would like to welcome my constituency staff to Queen’s Park today: Vyssnavi Vaseekaran, Kevin Urbas, Tharscika Ramaneekaran and Maria Sherry Lacson Tan. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Will Bouma: I’d like to welcome, from my constituency office, Alexandra Novakovic. Alexandra, thank you for what you do, keeping me on time. And even more—thank you for putting up with your husband, Milan, in my office.

Hon. Rob Flack: First, I’d like to welcome Shawn Brenn, Alison Robertson and the rest of the board and staff from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association—a friendly reminder: They’re hosting a reception this afternoon at 4 p.m. in the legislative dining room.

As well, to the Elgin–Middlesex–London staff: We’ve got Barb Gonyou, Shirley Slaats and new to the team is Emily Gratton—welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: I’m delighted to welcome our office manager, Marlene, joined by Ruth and Daniel, who keep the constituents of York Centre well communicated with. Thank you for everything that you do.

Mr. Ross Romano: I’m very proud to be able to introduce, in the members’ gallery, Oluchi Omabuike, from my constituency office to Queen’s Park. Welcome to our House.

I’d also like to recognize a new staff member starting a new position in my office within the government whip’s office, and that is Patricio González in the under-press.

Mr. John Jordan: It’s my privilege to introduce my great constituency team, Donna Donaldson, Angie Pacey and Stephanie Morris—the A team. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: I’m very happy to welcome three very dedicated staff from my constituency office, Anita Persaud, Jamie Aw and Karina Munsterhjelm. Welcome.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: I want to wish a sincere warm welcome, first, to Katharen Bortolin, the enigmatic executive director of the Hospice of Windsor Essex County. Welcome, Katharen.

As well, I’ve got two incredibly valued members of my constituency office here, Cole Gorham and Salam Esho. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: I just want to welcome some of my office staff: Karen Aguilar-Perez, Kadia Dabreo and Stacey Williams. They’re here visiting Queen’s Park.

Mr. Billy Pang: It is my pleasure to welcome our friends from York University: Dr. Rhonda Lenton, president; Ijade Maxwell Rodrigues, chief of government relations and protocol; Shawna Teper, director, community and government relations. It was exciting to see them after the York University grand opening.

Later tonight, from 5 to 7, York U will have their reception at 228. All are welcome.

Mr. Brian Riddell: I would just like to welcome my wonderful constit staff from Cambridge: Ana Maria Ruiz, Grace Camera, Melissa Young and our new addition, Miles Vaughan.

Mrs. Daisy Wai: I’m happy to welcome my husband, Albert Wai, to the chamber. Also with him are my amazing staff from Richmond Hill, including Nicole King, my EA; Madison Gordon, manager of the constituency office; Frederic Lai, administrative assistant to the office; Vinus Lee, outreach and community service manager; and Alice Chee, case manager. They are all here to celebrate Christmas and attend the training.

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: I’d like to acknowledge my team members from Newmarket–Aurora: Daniel Goutovets, Olga Zaidovskiy and Rayane Boumala. Thank you very much for all you do for Newmarket–Aurora.

Mr. Dave Smith: I’d like to introduce some of my constituency staff: Jiniththa Ganesalingam, Mary Babcock and Andrea “the sniper” Dodsworth.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: I’d like to welcome Hospice Palliative Care Ontario to Queen’s Park today.

Also, from the riding of Essex, I’d like to welcome Ethan Wuerch from the town of Kingsville and Danielle Brindley from the town of Amherstburg.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Sorry, Madam Speaker. I just realized another member of my team, my EA to my legislative and parliamentary role, Andy Kiani—welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Nolan Quinn: I’d like to welcome my constituency team from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry: Josée Séguin, Brittany St Pierre, Michael Lazaris and Connor MacDonald.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I want to acknowledge that we are meeting on lands traditionally inhabited by Indigenous peoples. We pay our respects to the many Indigenous nations who gathered here and continue to gather here, including the Mississaugas of the Credit.

This being the first sitting Monday of the month, I ask everyone to join in the singing of the Canadian national anthem, followed by the royal anthem. And this morning, it is my absolute pleasure to introduce, joining us in the public gallery, the Rehoboth Christian School choir from the absolutely fantastic riding of Flamborough–Glanbrook—

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): That’s right—to perform O Canada and God Save the King.

Singing of the national anthem / Chant de l’hymne national.

Singing of the royal anthem / Chant de l’hymne royal.

Question Period

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: This question is for the Premier. Global News is reporting that records of the government’s business conducted by the Premier’s chief of staff, Mr. Patrick Sackville, have been destroyed. We now know that at least seven months of records from early 2023 are gone. That was the time that multiple investigations into the greenbelt grab, including the OPP’s initial investigation, were under way already.

Deleting records related to government policy, using personal phones or not, is against the law.

Did the Premier’s chief of staff intentionally destroy the records of interest to the RCMP criminal investigation?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Brantford–Brant.

Mr. Will Bouma: Thank you to the Leader of the Opposition for the question.

As the member knows, it is important to note that the records in question are reflected in identical and corresponding records. This is an inadvertent error.

Speaker, as you know, we take our obligations under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act very seriously, and all staff are expected to follow the rules.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Back to the Premier: An inadvertent deletion? Are you kidding me? There’s an active criminal investigation going on, and they deleted the evidence.

We all know that when the previous Liberal government got caught in their gas plant scandals and staff deleted records to cover that up, the Premier’s chief of staff went to jail. It looks like the Premier and his party took the wrong lesson from this. I’ll tell you, it wasn’t meant to be a “how to” tutorial; that’s the truth.

It’s clear that the Premier’s chief of staff destroyed government records. There has to be a darn good reason for him to want to delete those texts.

Does the Premier acknowledge that his chief of staff broke the law when he got rid of his text messages?

Mr. Will Bouma: As we have said numerous times—the Integrity Commissioner has issued a report. The Auditor General has issued a report. Our government has even reversed policy that was not supported by the people in the province of Ontario. We have accepted every recommendation that we have been given.

Quite frankly, we are not focused on this. What we are focused on is what’s important to the people of Ontario. We are building the province of Ontario. We are rebuilding the province of Ontario, which was destroyed after 15 years under the previous government. We are building the hospitals, we are building the schools and we are building the highways that the people of Ontario need.

I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to focus on what’s important to the people of Ontario.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Well, here we go again, Speaker. Nothing to see here, right?

The government should have been more careful with these records. They knew they were under RCMP criminal investigation, so deleting those records was a choice. There is no way that the Premier’s chief of staff didn’t know that when he passed on his personal device all his messages were going to be gone. There is no way that he didn’t know that this is not allowed. The Auditor General told them. The Information and Privacy Commissioner told them. The secretary of cabinet told them. He knew. They knew. It sure looks like an attempt to destroy evidence relating to a police investigation by a key member of this Premier’s inner circle.

So I’d ask the Premier—get off his personal device, stand up and answer this question: Is this a cover-up?

Mr. Will Bouma: Speaker, the messages were not deleted. This was an inadvertent error, and again, as I’ve said previously, it is important to note that the records in question are reflected in identical corresponding records.

The opposition should focus on what’s important to the people of Ontario: affordability, housing. That’s what our government is doing; that’s what we are going to accomplish for the people of Ontario.

Health care

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, that’s a tough answer to take, I’ll tell you—inadvertent deletion of emails in the midst of an RCMP criminal investigation.

I’m going to go back to the Premier. We’ll see if he’ll answer this question: While this government has been caught up in all of these schemes and scandals, things have gotten tougher for the people of Ontario. This morning CBC reported that 2024 has been the worst year in Ontario for emergency room and urgent care closures. One in five hospitals had to close their emergency room or urgent care this year. That means patients going to the hospital with a medical emergency only to find it closed. That should never happen.

Why has this Premier allowed this to become the reality for communities all across Ontario?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the member for Essex.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Regarding the news report which the Leader of the Opposition just cited, Anthony Dale, the president of the Ontario Hospital Association, says he has serious concerns about whether those numbers are even accurate or not.

So while the Leader of the Opposition is citing inaccurate numbers, let me give you some real numbers: Since 2018, we’ve trained and registered approximately 100,000 nurses in the province of Ontario. And here are some more accurate numbers: We have 30,000 people studying—nurses—in our colleges and universities. Of course, that is important, because we need a pipeline of talent coming through the pipeline so that we can staff our hospitals and other health care agencies.

Speaker, no government has invested more in the public health care system than this government, increasing the funding from $60 billion in 2018 to $85 billion in 2024.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Back to the Premier: A closure is a closure is a closure. Emergency rooms are meant to be available 24/7, not just on weekdays or in the daytime. They’re not a nice-to-have; they are a basic health service that every Ontarian has a right to. The 10 ERs that closed for the most hours under this government are all in rural communities. Hospitals in southwestern Ontario are about the hardest hit, and they still haven’t recovered, by the way, from all those Liberal hospital closures.

Hospitals in Clinton, in Chesley, Kincardine and Walkerton, Durham: They have had repeated and sometimes simultaneous closures over the last few years. Not to mention hospitals like Minden, which this government has closed altogether. But no action—zero action—from this government.

Why does this government keep leaving rural Ontario behind?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Speaker, the most challenging time of the year for emergency rooms is the summertime, and I’m pleased to say that this July and August, 99% of Ontario hospital emergency departments were open without any interruption whatsoever. That is in part because of the great dedication of our emergency room staff, doctors and nurses and other professionals in the health care system across the province of Ontario.

It is also a success in part because of this government’s investments, including $44 million to reduce emergency room wait times and also bolstering the nursing workforce in Ontario with $10 million of investments to train and upgrade approximately 1,000 nurses in emergency department skills and training. Those are the investments we are making for hospitals in Ontario.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Final supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: The number one cause of emergency room closures is a shortage of nurses. That accounts for more than 85%. That’s because nurses and health care workers are burned out, they are overworked and they are underpaid. And you know what, when the emergency room closes early, you know who stays behind to take care of those patients? The nurses.

But this government cut nurses’ wages and that drove them out of our health care system. This government is so distracted by deleting emails and schemes and scandals, that they don’t care about delivering the solutions that Ontarians need.

So my question again to the Premier is: Is he finally going to take some responsibility for the damage he has done to our health care system, or are we just going to hear more excuses from some minister?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Contrary to the assertion of the Leader of the Opposition, we are training more and more nurses in the province of Ontario. As I just stated, we have registered approximately 100,000 nurses in Ontario since taking government in 2018. In addition to that, we have approximately 30,000 people in Ontario studying nursing in our colleges and universities. Part of that is because of the investments that this government has made in Learn and Stay grants and also waiving the tuition costs for people studying nursing in Ontario, so that we can have a guaranteed workforce not only now, but also in the future.

Nurses are doing a great job in Ontario and we want to thank them for their dedication.

Child and family services

Miss Monique Taylor: My question is for the Premier. Chronic underfunding has left our children and youth caught in failing systems, neglecting their well-being in every direction. We cannot ignore the multiple crises impacting children, youth and their families anymore. Children and youth in care, former crown wards, service providers, advocacy groups, educators, experts and families have been calling for action loud and clear.

The fundamental needs of Ontario’s children are not being met: housing, health care, education, justice, behavioural services and more. Child and youth welfare needs to be transformed into a child well-being system so kids and families get what they need when they need it.

Will the Premier do the right thing and support our motion today to strike an emergency committee on the crisis facing Ontario’s children and youth?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Michael Parsa: I thank my honourable colleague for the question. There’s nothing more important than making sure the future generation is supported so that they continue to succeed and thrive wherever they are in the province. We backed that up with record investments in the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Across the board, we have increased investments in every area of this ministry so that no child or youth is ever left behind in our province.

My honourable colleague references the societies in this province. We increased investments to societies by $76.3 million last year. We increased child protection services by $14 million this year. We backed that up by an additional $36.5 million ongoing base funding to make sure societies have what they need, that the resources are in place to look after the future generation.

When it comes to children and youth, we will never, ever give up on them. We’ll continue to fight for them and I hope the—

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Miss Monique Taylor: One hundred children die in care every year; 73,000 kids are waiting for autism services; kids are sleeping in motels, hotels and Airbnbs; they’re in for-profit placements, being used as cash cows; children are being sent home from school because they have no supports or staff available. That is the reality for Ontario families, Minister.

British Columbia has recently released Don’t Look Away, a report by the Representative for Children and Youth. It is a collective commitment to do a system-wide overhaul, an all-hands-on-deck approach that will ensure young people are safe, connected and thriving. We need this approach in Ontario. The government can no longer look away from their fundamental responsibility.

Speaker, through you, will the Premier commit today and support our motion to study the well-being of children and youth in Ontario? Our children deserve no less.

Interjection.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform will come to order.

The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Michael Parsa: Let me make it very clear to my honourable colleagues in opposition: When it comes to children and youth, we will no longer listen to any more studies and talks when it came to the previous government and the opposition.

This is a government of action, Madam Speaker. This is not a government that’s going to sit around.

We’re talking about, again, the future of our generation. Investment in the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has increased by more than $3 billion over the last three years to make sure all our community partners have access to the resources they need.

She talks about the children’s aid societies in this province. The investments to—

Interjection.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Order.

Hon. Michael Parsa: —children’s aid societies have increased by $129 million—

Interjection.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The government House leader will come to order.

Hon. Michael Parsa: —over the last 10 years. Why?

Interjection.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order.

Hon. Michael Parsa: —the number of children and youth this year has gone down by 30%.

I would love for the opposition to stand up for children and youth in this province, to fight for children and youth as opposed to talking—

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Questions?

Job creation

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Good-paying jobs are being created by businesses right across this province. Our government has worked to create an environment that encourages businesses to invest, expand and grow their workforces.

We have reduced the annual cost of doing business by $8 billion and we have cut over 550 pieces of red tape that the Liberals put up. As a result, we’ve seen companies across a range of sectors make important investments throughout the province. They know that there is no better place to be than right here in Ontario.

Speaker, can the minister please share details of any investments that have landed in Ontario recently?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Recently, Goodyear has invested $575 million to expand their plant in Napanee. This will allow them to significantly ramp up the production and meet the growing demand for EV and all-terrain tires.

Construction at Goodyear’s expansion began earlier this year and is expected to be completed by 2027. The project will create 200 good-paying jobs and add to the 1,000 people already employed at Goodyear.

When we met them at their Luxembourg offices, they told us Ontario has everything they need to succeed and they know that Ontario will continue to be the global leader in auto and EV production for decades to come.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Good-paying jobs are being created right across our province. Businesses that are operating in Ontario are doubling down. They know our province has everything they need to be successful, and that’s why we hear about investments and expansions on a daily basis. We have the best talent right here in the world, clean and reliable energy, low and competitive business costs and so much more.

This is not the same Ontario that businesses remember from the Liberal days. Our government has cleaned up the mess that they left by cutting taxes and lowering costs across the board.

Speaker, can the minister highlight any other investments they have landed in Ontario recently?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: In September, we welcomed a $200-million manufacturing investment from Jungbunzlauer in Port Colborne. They are the only producer of xanthan gum in all of the country. JBL’s investment will allow them to expand production and meet the rising demand in North America while creating 50 new good-paying jobs for hard-working families in and around Port Colborne.

Speaker, when we met them in Switzerland, we knew that we succeeded in landing them here in Ontario, because goods across a range of sectors are once again being made in Ontario by Ontario workers.

Residential schools

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker. This morning, CBC reported that the Ontario coroner confirmed 220 more deaths of children who attended Indian residential schools in Ontario. The number of known deaths at Indian residential schools in Ontario is now 656.

Indian residential school survivors across Ontario are still searching the school sites and adjacent crown lands. What is Ontario doing to remove barriers to their search efforts?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the Minister of Northern Development, Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation.

Hon. Greg Rickford: We discussed this at debate last week.

Ontario had the hardihood to move forward with a bold plan—not just with resources, but additional state-of-the-art support—so that First Nations communities and site-specific Indigenous-led groups could engage in the activities of identification, investigation, protection, and at some point further down the road, when the scope of this is fully appreciated and understood as a result of this work, to move towards commemoration and investigation.

We will continue to provide not just financial supports but those of other ministries that could help the technological and administrative supports in an effort to reveal these difficult findings as they arise.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: The independent special interlocutor for missing children and unmarked graves and burial sites, Kimberly Murray, released her final report in October 2024. She described the children lost to these Indian residential schools not as missing but as victims of the state. Her report says provinces need to establish a public record of their ongoing harms of genocide, colonization and human rights violations. What has Ontario done to date on that?

Hon. Greg Rickford: With respect to the question, of course, we have a number of ministries that are implicated in those specific activities, but we are also fully supportive, financially, administratively and technologically, in the efforts focused on identification, investigation, protection and then commemoration and memorialization.

Madam Speaker, there’s no question that this was one of the darkest—if not, in my view, the darkest

chapter in Canada’s history.

The province of Ontario has led all other provinces and the federal government in its efforts to pursue these findings—the member opposite has actually never disputed that, and I appreciate that—and we remain committed to that path moving forward.

Taxation

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: My question is for the Minister of Energy and Electrification. Both the Ontario and federal Liberals have a track record of making energy expensive as they imposed ideological energy decisions on the people of Ontario. And this isn’t the end; in fact, it is the beginning—the beginning of making life more unaffordable for everyday families.

The Premier and the Minister of Energy have been standing up against this punitive Trudeau-Crombie carbon tax and have been warning about higher taxes to come for families. However, the so-called clean electricity regulations are just the newest tax that will cause significant hikes for Ontario families and businesses.

Can the minister outline what implications this new tax hike has on Ontario families and businesses, and what he intends to do to stand up against it?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: I want to thank the member from Mississauga–Erin Mills for being a tax fighter in this Legislature and standing up for common sense in this country, because what we know about the proposed federal Liberal clean energy regulations is that it is effectively a second carbon tax that is five times more expensive than the original one that is already setting back families, impacting affordability of energy bills and, perhaps more problematically, killing jobs.

We cannot allow a $35-billion hit to our economy because of an ideological preoccupation when the province of Ontario’s existing program will get us to near net-zero by 2050, officially getting us to the same objective without taking $35 billion out of the pockets of families and our small businesses.

We are calling on the opposition to stand with this government as we stand up for Ontario jobs and families.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: I want to thank the minister for standing up on behalf of Ontario families and businesses in opposing this new tax.

The Affordable Energy Act prioritizes affordability, while the Liberals are prioritizing ideology. The Affordable Energy Act is also prioritizing the importance of keeping energy bills low. The clean electricity regulations will essentially make energy bills in Ontario five times more expensive for everyday families, including families in my riding of Mississauga–Erin Mills.

Again, through you, Madam Speaker, can the minister outline his plan to oppose tax hikes and keep energy clean, affordable and reliable in Ontario?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: At a time when the incoming US administration is moving in the opposite direction, we need to be intentional in safeguarding our jobs and our economic interests. Our competitiveness depends on our ability to make sure energy is abundant, reliable and affordable. The carbon tax, today, adds a 25% premium to Ontario families’ energy bills. This will make it worse; an additional up to $168 for an average family, which they will pay even though the government has a plan to get to near net-zero without increasing taxes.

This is going to add a 17% increase to the bills for small businesses, a 13% increase to families and seniors in our province. It adds a $35-billion hit to our economy and it would require us to build out an additional 11,000 megawatts of power.

This can only be described as a dangerous scheme that needs to be abandoned by the federal government. They should work with the province of Ontario to ensure we have a competitive, affordable, reliable and, yes, clean energy future for the people of this province.

Child care

Ms. Doly Begum: My question is to the Premier. Last week, I joined a town hall in Scarborough Southwest with moms, advocates and members of the South Asian Women’s Rights Organization, some of whom are here today with us in the gallery. We heard directly from families and experts that affordable child care remains out of reach for many low-income families and that the current $20,000 income limit for full child care subsidies is outdated and does not address the real cost-of-living challenges faced by families across this province.

Will the Premier raise the income limit to reflect the cost-of-living crisis that people are facing across this province and ensure a fair system so all families can access affordable child care in this province?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: As the member opposite knows, under the leadership of the former Minister of Education, who worked extremely hard to ensure that Ontario families received the best possible deal—I urge the member opposite to please stand with us as we work with the federal government to ensure the flexibility for parents so we can work with our for-profit and our not-for-profit providers to ensure that there are adequate spaces for families across Ontario.

I was in PEI last week with my federal, provincial and territorial colleagues talking about this exact issue, and the provinces stand together, calling for the federal government to stand up and ensure sustainable funding so we can have sustainable child care spaces for families across Ontario. It is ultimately important for our working moms, but also for families, to ensure that we have those spaces for families across the province.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Ms. Doly Begum: Speaker, I know that the members in the gallery want to hear a response where we take responsibility and not dodge the question to another level of government.

Earlier this summer, the Premier cancelled over 50 planned child care spaces, removing more than 3,000 desperately needed spots.

Families are already stretched thin by skyrocketing costs, with many parents working multiple jobs just to make ends meet. The lack of after-hours, weekend or even affordable child care options is forcing parents to make extremely difficult decisions.

One mother in our community shared that after over a year on wait-lists for child care and subsidies, she was forced to rely on a neighbour for child care, at $5 an hour, just to be able to go out and work.

Will the Premier stop withholding funds, reverse his cuts and invest in affordable child care to give families the support they so desperately need now?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Just to be clear, these child care spaces were not cancelled. Of the 28 Toronto District School Board child care spaces that were previously approved, 27 of those are from five years ago, and none of the projects had begun construction. Of the 20 TCDSB child care projects that were previously approved, 18 of those were from more than five years ago, and none of those projects had begun construction either. Our government committed to providing 25% additional funding on top of the existing, approved capital funding allocation to these school boards to ensure that these additional child care spaces can be provided.

Madam Speaker, we are committed to ensuring that families across Ontario have adequate and sustainable child care spaces—for all families in the province.

Health care

Mr. John Fraser: To the Premier: For years, Ontario’s doctors have warned the Premier about the crisis in family medicine. And they have told us that 2.5 million Ontarians don’t have a family doctor. We now know that thousands of family doctors are set to retire, which means that more than three million Ontarians are at risk of becoming orphaned patients. That’s 5.6 million people in Ontario who either don’t have a family doctor or are at risk of losing theirs; that’s one in three people. That’s a pretty scary number. You’d think this would light a fire under the Premier’s chair.

How is it that finding everyone a family doctor doesn’t have the same sense of urgency for the Premier as booze and bike lanes do?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the member for Essex.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Speaker, we must always remember the quote from the former Liberal Minister of Health George Smitherman, who said that the Liberals starved the health care system in order to balance the budget. We are not going to make that mistake.

We are training more doctors in the province of Ontario. We are actually opening up two new medical schools—one in Brampton and one at York University—to train more doctors than ever before. In addition to that, we’re training more doctors at the Ontario northern school of health.

And we are actually expanding the primary health care system by putting more nurse practitioners into the system, who are absolutely vital to delivering client-centred care, team-based care to people in Ontario. Over four million people benefit from that type of care in Ontario.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. John Fraser: I think the member from Essex should focus on the 13,000 people who don’t have a family doctor in his riding or the hundreds of doctors who are set to retire in his corner of the province.

Everyone deserves a family doctor—and we’re committed to doing that.

Six years ago, the Premier promised to fix health care. Here’s what it looks like: 2.5 million Ontarians don’t have a family doctor, and three more million are at risk of losing theirs. More than 200 communities don’t have anyone rostered to a family doctor. Hallway health care is twice as bad as it was in 2018. And 2024 is the worst year ever for emergency room closures—and we’re not even at the end of the year. Wait times are so bad that 11,000 died on a wait-list last year. You’d think that this would—

Interjection.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I apologize.

The Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform has been warned.

The member for Ottawa South can continue.

Mr. John Fraser: You would think that all of this would light a fire under the Premier’s backside.

So, Speaker, why is it that the Premier is more obsessed with booze and bike lanes than he is finding Ontarians a family doctor?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Unlike the Liberals, who actually reduced the number of doctors being trained in the province of Ontario, we are increasing the number of doctors being trained in the province of Ontario. In fact, we are not only increasing the number of doctors being trained, but we have trained and registered approximately 100,000 nurses in Ontario since 2018. In addition to that, we have 30,000 students studying nursing in our colleges and universities.

We have made a greater investment in the public health care system than the Liberals ever made. We know that the Liberals slashed health care funding in order to balance the budget. Contrary to what they did, we are actually investing in the public health care system, increasing the budget for health care from $60 billion in 2018 to $85 billion in 2024.

Research and innovation

Mr. John Jordan: My question is for the Minister of Colleges and Universities. Our province’s institutions play a vital role in the creation and support of research and innovation that improve the life of Ontarians. It is critical we protect Ontario’s publicly funded research so that residents can realize its benefits in the form of job creation, opportunity and economic growth, because our tax dollars should have a direct benefit to taxpayers.

Under the leadership of the Premier, significant investments have been made so that our institutions can remain world-class and serve the future of Ontario. But in recognizing the great work our province is doing, we know there are always more opportunities to advance Ontario’s research capacities.

Speaker, can the minister inform the House about how his ministry is investing in made-in-Ontario research?

Hon. Nolan Quinn: Thank you to my colleague from Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston for the important question. This government has always prioritized supporting research in Ontario, because research is the cornerstone for both academic and societal advancement. It is what sets Ontario apart from other provinces and makes it distinguished on the global stage.

Surely the member may be aware of the significant investments we have made into homegrown research through the Ontario Research Fund and Early Researcher Awards. The Ministry of Colleges and Universities is proud to have contributed over $278 million to 406 homegrown research projects between 2022 and March 2024.

Through investing in made-in-Ontario research, this government is showing its commitment to the people of Ontario by keeping their tax dollars in the province and investing in their future. Our government’s contributions to domestic research have cemented Ontario as a national leader in the key industries of life sciences, energy, manufacturing and more.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. John Jordan: Thank you to the minister for providing this update on how the ministry is investing in homegrown research. It’s clear that our government is following through on its commitment to building Ontario starting with research, one of the most fundamental components.

As the previous Liberal government was too focused on scoring political points with fiscally irresponsible policies, they failed to address long-term innovation strategies that grow the province. The minister’s recent announcement is another example of how we are taking a responsible approach to supporting research in Ontario and driving our key sectors forward.

Speaker, can the minister please tell us how the recent expansion of the Ontario Research Fund will help fuel our province’s economic growth?

Hon. Nolan Quinn: I’d like to thank the great member from Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston for the supplemental question.

I’m proud to report that on November 22, our government announced further support for made-in-Ontario research and innovation, with an investment of over $92 million. The investment will aid more than 200 projects at universities, colleges and other institutions with research hospitals across the province.

Ontarians know that investment into domestic research is an investment into our province’s future. We are actively working with our sector partners so that more groundbreaking discoveries can be made in our backyard and meet the future demands of our province. Through our significant investment of $92 million, we are fuelling economic growth by creating more jobs, finding more research breakthroughs and attracting more investments right here in Ontario.

Health care

Mr. Jeff Burch: Speaker, through you to the Premier: In 2018, this Premier promised to end hallway health care, and it’s only gotten worst. In my region, the Port Colborne and Fort Erie urgent care centres are set to close in 2028 and have already eliminated after-hours services. The Welland Hospital lost its after-hours emergency surgical care.

How can anyone trust this Premier to fix our broken health care system, when we are witnessing, under his watch, record closures of hospitals, emergency departments and urgent care centres across this province?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the member for Essex.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: No government has invested more in the public health care system than this government. We’re training more doctors, we’re training more nurses and we’re building a series of health care institutions right across the province of Ontario. We are launching the building of 50 hospitals across the province of Ontario, which includes not only new builds, but also improvements and renovations.

We are also expanding the surgical and diagnostic clinics which are available across the province of Ontario—which was a plan that was opposed by the NDP, but we know how important and valuable these surgical and diagnostic clinics are. They relieve the stress on our emergency departments. They make it more available for people to get the surgery and the diagnostics that they need closer to home, when and where they need it.

We believe in this program. We’re investing in this program, because we are investing and we believe in the public health care system.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Jeff Burch: Answering real questions with meaningless statistics is a sure sign of incompetence.

Yesterday, I heard from Mary Remigio, who is deeply concerned about a young friend who’s been waiting for two years on an urgent surgical list to have a fist-sized mass removed from her ovary. That’s two years on the urgent list. As a retired health care worker, Ms. Remigio knows, from experience, the mass may have grown larger since the MRI and that the entire ovary may have to be removed by the time she gets onto an operating table. She is only 26 years old.

If this Premier can’t even deliver on the basics, like timely surgical wait times, how can anyone trust this government to fix the rest of our broken health care system?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: As a matter of fact, Ontario has the shortest surgical wait times in the entire country. We have shorter surgical wait times than they do in British Columbia or Alberta or Saskatchewan. We have shorter surgical wait times than any other province in the country, and that is because of the remarkable investments in the public health care system made by this government. It is also because of the dedication of our nurses and doctors and other health care professionals in the province of Ontario.

And most importantly, it is also because we are expanding the role of community surgical clinics, where people can get surgery, such as cataract surgery, without having to go to a hospital.

This is very important. We know the NDP support it, but we know people want it.

Health care

Mr. Stephen Blais: My question is to the Premier: Under this government, health care services in our province are at a breaking point. The number of emergency room closures is up. The wait-list for diagnostics is up. The wait times for surgeries is up. At 2.5 million people, the number of Ontarians without a family doctor is up, and as thousands of doctors look to retire, that number is set to go up by another three million people.

But wait, Madam Speaker, that’s not all. Government tax collection is up. No government in the history of Ontario has ever collected more income tax and more sales tax than this one. It truly makes the Premier the tax man. Meanwhile, he votes against every common-sense Liberal proposal to cut taxes in this Legislature.

If the Premier is collecting more taxes than any other in history, and there are so many health care failures on his watch, where is all the money going?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): To the member for Essex.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: We must always remember the Liberal non-record on health care. They trained fewer doctors. They trained fewer nurses. They did not invest in the public health care system. In fact, according to George Smitherman, the former Liberal Minister of Health, they slashed spending to the health care system in Ontario.

By contrast, this government is training more doctors than ever before. We are training more nurses than ever before. We have launched a rebuild or new build of 50 new hospitals across the province of Ontario in every area of Ontario, and we are specifically investing in the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, making sure that we get more doctors in northern Ontario.

We believe in the public health care system, and that, Madam Speaker, is why we are investing in the public health care system.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Stephen Blais: We know that this Premier’s high-spending, high-tax approach is nothing new. While he was on Toronto city council, taxes went up three straight years, Madam Speaker. His failure to deliver middle-class tax relief, his failure to keep emergency rooms open and his failure to get people a family doctor—all of these failures are outdone by the Premier’s failure to get people in Ontario working; 130,000 more people are unemployed today than the day the Premier was elected. The unemployment rate has gone from 5.9% to 6.8%. Ontario has lost 28,000 construction jobs and lost 8,400 manufacturing jobs in the last 12 months, all while BC, Alberta and Quebec see job growth.

With high spending, high debt and high taxes, why is this government having such a hard time with the essentials like health care and getting people working?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: One of the things is that almost 200,000 new jobs have been created this year—he’s taking a little bit of statistics and extrapolating.

There’s 200,000 new jobs, an economy that’s growing—when we took over, $800 billion; now $1.13 trillion. Economy and revenues are growing. And where is the money going? The money is going $50 billion for new hospitals, because they built no hospitals; money to hire more nurses and doctors, because they cut nurses; to medical schools, three new medical schools—they cut funding for medical students, Madam Speaker.

We’re growing the economy. We’re investing in health care. We’ve got the job under wraps and we’re going to continue doing it, and they have to stop ignoring the facts.

Public safety

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: My question is to the Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform. Despite growing concerns across Ontario, auto theft and the federal government’s inaction has left communities vulnerable to rising crime. In regions like Peel, auto thefts have more than doubled between 2021 and 2023, leaving law-abiding citizens in my riding of Brampton East and across the province fearful of their property and safety.

Speaker, Ontarians deserve decisive action and not just reassurances. With the opposition focused on deflection rather than solutions, it’s imperative that this government leads by example.

Can the associate minister explain exactly what measures our government is implementing to hold auto thieves accountable and address the repeat offenders who exploit our justice system, and inform the House on the measures our government is taking to ensure all Ontarians feel safe?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform.

Hon. Graham McGregor: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Before I go into my response, Madam Speaker, you’re doing a lovely job today as the Speaker.

As we talk about law and order, it also matters in this House. We need to have rules in this House as well.

I want to thank my colleague the member for Brampton East for raising this serious concern, as he is a Brampton member. I am a Brampton boy myself. I think he deserves a straight answer. I will endeavour to give him one.

Earlier this month, in Brampton East, four suspects were arrested following a violent carjacking where the victim was beaten, robbed and choked unconscious. Shockingly, Speaker, one of the accused was already out on bail. I want to dissuade some colleagues, particularly in the NDP and Liberals, who think that auto theft is a victimless crime. It is not a victimless crime, Madam Speaker. It impacts all Ontarians, leading to higher insurance premiums and increasingly violent attacks during carjackings.

This alarming trend has no place in our province, which is why our government is taking action. We’re investing $51 million over three years to support police services in targeting auto theft and raising public awareness. We’ve invested already over $358 million to the Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy to combat related crimes.

We’re introducing legislation to suspend drivers’ licences for those—

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: Thank you to the associate minister for that response.

Speaker, I’ve gotten countless calls from concerned constituents in my riding of Brampton East, many of them who feel abandoned by the federal laws governing our justice system. During my visits to these residents, I’ve heard first-hand the fear and frustration they experience knowing that auto thieves and violent offenders are repeatedly arrested only to be released on bail more times and commit more crimes.

Recent data from the Ontario carjacking task force is alarming: 124 arrests were made from September 2023 to March 2024, and yet nearly half of those arrested were already out on bail. Even more shocking, 61% of them were released on bail again after there was an arrest. This is unacceptable. Ontarians demand action; however, the federal government continues to offer excuses.

Speaker, can the associate minister outline the concrete steps our government is taking to hold repeat offenders accountable and ensure the safety of our communities is prioritized over the rights of criminals?

Hon. Graham McGregor: Our government is committed to breaking the cycle of repeat offenders and reducing auto thefts across Ontario. We are clear: Those who disregard the law should be locked up, not face bail time and time again.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The opposition side will come to order.

Hon. Graham McGregor: That’s why we’ve made significant investments in hiring additional judges and crown prosecutors to ensure that criminals are held accountable. Ontario will not be a safe haven for those who commit crimes. If you break the law, there’s a place for you behind bars where you will await trial and justice.

Interjection.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order.

Hon. Graham McGregor: However, Speaker, our efforts are undermined by the federal government’s soft-on-crime approach. The current Criminal Code is too weak to deliver the justice that Ontarians deserve. That’s why I’ve called on the federal Liberal-NDP government to legislate mandatory minimum sentences, empower judges to impose stricter penalties and deny bail to those who commit serious crimes. If you commit a violent crime with a gun or a weapon, you shouldn’t have the option for bail.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The opposition side will come to order.

Hon. Graham McGregor: It’s like we speak a little truth; the Liberals lose their minds about it. But we won’t stop fighting for more accountability, a cornerstone for safer communities. Our government will not stop fighting to protect Ontarians. We’ll continue to push for changes to hold bad actors accountable.

Public transit

MPP Jill Andrew: To the Premier: The multi-billion dollar Eglinton Crosstown began construction in 2011. It’s a teenager now. And we’re now being teased with the possibility of an opening hopefully sometime in 2025. Metrolinx’s embattled CEO, Phil Verster, has now said that they’re pushing back to a possible 2025 opening date. The excuse this time? Software design flaws. We’re in the 13th year of this project. It hasn’t met its deadline. It’s being plagued by massive delays and cost overruns, and my community in Toronto–St. Paul’s has been disproportionately impacted. We will not believe this line until we’re sitting on this line singing Kool and the Gang’s Celebration.

My question to the government: Why has this government let Metrolinx’s Phil Vester continue to drive this train, overrun and over-budget and over-delayed? Why is that happening? Let’s get the basics done and give St. Paul’s transit.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: As that member knows, we are in the critical phase of testing and commissioning that and ensuring that it’s a safe and reliable system. Substantial completion on construction has been completed on the line, and we will continue to make sure it’s safe for people to ride on.

But, Madam Speaker, here are the facts: There’s no government that invested more in public transit than that under Premier Doug Ford and our government. Here’s the facts: The NDP have voted against every single one of our investments into public transit. The Ontario Line, which will move 400,000 people every single day, it will take 28,000 cars off the road: Guess what? The Liberals and NDP voted against it. After 15 years of the Liberals doing absolutely nothing, building no transit in this province, our government has shovels in the ground, and we are building for the future.

And we will continue to do so for the next 10, 20, 50 years and ensure our people have the transportation they need.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

MPP Jill Andrew: Back to the Premier: We have demanded a full public inquiry for years now. In 2020, the Auditor General’s report highlighted the very problems associated with P3s: delays, delays, delays; taxpayers pay more; government accountability—zero; and the project tends to literally go off the tracks. Metrolinx literally admitted in 2022 that they had no credible plan to complete this project.

Our local BIAs, small businesses, real, affordable housing and community advocates like Black Urbanism TO, we all want better for our residents. We need financial support to support midtown and Little Jamaica small businesses and even residents who have been let down by this project.

My question is back to the government: What is the Conservative government willing to offer midtown and Little Jamaica today to compensate our community for years of small business closures; flooding, for goodness’ sakes; and residents living through road closures and ongoing construction? Again—

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Look, our government is committed to building public transit, which we know will attract the best jobs in this province and we know will create thousands of jobs. What the shame is, is the fact that the NDP and Liberals continue to vote against every plan and every transit project we put forward. Here’s what’s even more shocking: When this government brought forward a plan to help the people get to transit—

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The member for Ottawa Centre will come to order. The government side will come to order. The opposition side will come to order.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: —make it more accessible, make it more affordable with One Fare, the NDP and Liberals voted against that. Take that $1,600 a year saved and put it back into the pockets of transit users, and the NDP—

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The member for Toronto–St. Paul’s will come to order. The member for Ottawa South will come to order. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing will come to order.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: —and Liberals voted against it. Not only are they against building public transit and investing in public transit, but they are against making it more accessible and more affordable. And that is a shame, Madam Speaker, because we need to keep building for the future, and that’s exactly what this government will do and continue getting shovels in the ground.

Electronic service delivery

Mr. Will Bouma: My question is for the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. With looming cyber threats everywhere, it is essential that Ontario municipalities have the tools that they need to prevent cyber attacks and safeguard critical public services. Earlier this year, the city of Hamilton faced a cyber attack that cost the city millions of dollars and affected services from city phone lines to transit services. But we know that this incident is only one example of how cyber threats have affected public sector entities in our province.

That’s why our government has taken decisive action in ensuring a safer digital future for all Ontarians through the Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act.

Speaker, can the minister please tell us how this legislation will protect individuals and the broader public sector in Ontario?

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: I thank the excellent member for Brantford–Brant for that timely question. In fact, just one week ago today, the Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act, 2024, was passed unanimously in this House and received royal assent.

When it comes to the city of Hamilton, I did have the pleasure of meeting with Mayor Horwath and members of her council at the AMO conference in August of this year. I assured her and thanked her for the fact that Hamilton wishes to share its experience with respect to that devastating cyber attack on the city of Hamilton.

We will make sure that we work hand-in-glove with Hamilton and all municipalities and the entire broader public sector to strengthen and bring forth the fortifications necessary to detect and prevent cyber attacks of all types. This is the great challenge of the 21st century. We have the tools, we have the vision, and we have the Cyber Security Centre of Excellence and the Cyber Security Operations Centre to assist.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Will Bouma: Thank you, Minister, for that response.

Many of my constituents are enthusiastic about the transformative opportunities that artificial intelligence can bring to Ontario. AI holds the potential to drive significant advancements in automation, personalized services and decision-making, with applications spanning critical sectors such as health care, finance, education and manufacturing. These innovations promise to enhance efficiency and foster innovation across our entire province. However, alongside this excitement, there is also some apprehension regarding the responsible development and use of AI technologies.

Could the minister please provide details on how this new legislation will ensure that AI is developed and deployed responsibly to address these concerns?

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: Once again, that thoughtful member from Brantford–Brant raises an important feature of modern technology, and that also was addressed in our now-passed Bill 194. Artificial intelligence—an enterprise-wise definition is contained in the new legislation. This builds upon the principles embedded in the act and that we have moved forward on: No AI in secret. Transparency, accountability and trust are the hallmarks of our use of artificial intelligence and our deployment of it in the public sector and the broader public sector.

The legislation does prioritize transparency and the protection of our children and individual rights for all when it comes to the use and deployment of artificial intelligence. We understand the need for modern protections.

We also understand that artificial intelligence creates an incredible opportunity to make our lives better, to make us all better at what we do, and to unlock huge opportunities for jobs and job creation.

Retirement homes

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Seniors in my riding of Ottawa West–Nepean are being charged thousands of dollars in additional fees by Alavida Lifestyles this year for their housing and care, and it’s all perfectly legal. The only limit that currently exists for retirement home fees in Ontario is the requirement to provide 90 days’ notice of any increase. So even though Alavida is jacking up the fees by more than $30,000 for one of their residents, they are not breaking the law.

Since the government has failed to take any action at all this year, more than two dozen elderly residents of retirement homes in my riding have lost their home, their family and their community. Others feel they have no choice but to pay the higher fees even though they can’t afford them, feeling like they’ve been coerced by high-pressure tactics to sign an agreement. This is a very easy problem to solve. Just regulate retirement home fees the way we regulate rent.

So my question is, what’s stopping the government from implementing such a simple solution to protect vulnerable seniors against such predatory behaviour?

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Madam Speaker, keeping costs down matters to our government, just like it matters to seniors.

That is why we passed the Residents’ Bill of Rights in 2021. This allows every resident to know the true cost of care, and the right to be informed in advance when price changes occur.

As a super senior myself, I know that every penny saved is a penny earned.

That is why this Premier is dedicated to making sure this transparency and fairness continues for all residents of retirement homes.

Jim Jessop

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I understand that we have a point of order. I recognize the member for Beaches–East York.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Toronto has a new fire chief. So I’d like to congratulate Jim Jessop on his new role. I look forward to working with him, as I think we all do.

Visitors

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Scarborough Southwest on a point of order.

Ms. Doly Begum: I’d like to take the opportunity to welcome some special guests to the House: my friends Krystyna Long and Richard Long. Welcome to the House.

Deferred Votes

Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à accroître la sécurité dans les rues et à renforcer les collectivités

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 223,

An Act to enact two Acts and to amend various Acts with respect to public safety and the justice system / Projet de loi 223, Loi édictant deux lois et modifiant diverses lois relatives à la sécurité publique et au système judiciaire.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1153 to 1158.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Members will please take their seats.

On October 23, 2024, Mr. Kerzner moved second reading of Bill 223,

An Act to enact two Acts and to amend various Acts with respect to public safety and the justice system.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Allsopp, Tyler

Babikian, Aris

Bailey, Robert

Bethlenfalvy, Peter

Blais, Stephen

Bouma, Will

Bresee, Ric

Byers, Rick

Calandra, Paul

Cho, Raymond Sung Joon

Cho, Stan

Clark, Steve

Coe, Lorne

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Dowie, Andrew

Downey, Doug

Dunlop, Jill

Fedeli, Victor

Flack, Rob

Fraser, John

Gallagher Murphy, Dawn

Grewal, Hardeep Singh

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Mike

Hazell, Andrea

Holland, Kevin

Hsu, Ted

Jones, Sylvia

Jones, Trevor

Jordan, John

Kanapathi, Logan

Ke, Vincent

Kerzner, Michael S.

Kusendova-Bashta, Natalia

Leardi, Anthony

Martin, Robin

McCarthy, Todd J.

McCrimmon, Karen

McGregor, Graham

Mulroney, Caroline

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pang, Billy

Parsa, Michael

Pierre, Natalie

Pinsonneault, Steve

Quinn, Nolan

Rae, Matthew

Rickford, Greg

Riddell, Brian

Romano, Ross

Sabawy, Sheref

Sandhu, Amarjot

Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh

Sarrazin, Stéphane

Saunderson, Brian

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Dave

Smith, David

Smith, Laura

Thanigasalam, Vijay

Thompson, Lisa M.

Tibollo, Michael A.

Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.

Wai, Daisy

Williams, Charmaine A.

Yakabuski, John

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): All those opposed to the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Armstrong, Teresa J.

Begum, Doly

Bell, Jessica

Bourgouin, Guy

Clancy, Aislinn

French, Jennifer K.

Gélinas, France

Glover, Chris

Harden, Joel

Jama, Sarah

Karpoche, Bhutila

Mamakwa, Sol

Pasma, Chandra

Sattler, Peggy

Schreiner, Mike

Shaw, Sandy

Stiles, Marit

Tabuns, Peter

Taylor, Monique

Vaugeois, Lise

West, Jamie

Wong-Tam, Kristyn

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): The ayes are 66; the nays are 22.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I declare the motion carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Pursuant to the order of the House dated November 28, 2024, the bill is ordered for third reading.

Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à réduire les formalités administratives et à favoriser l’essor de l’Ontario

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 227,

An Act to amend various Acts / Projet de loi 227, Loi modifiant diverses lois.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1202 to 1207.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Mr. Harris has moved second reading of Bill 227,

An Act to amend various Acts.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Allsopp, Tyler

Babikian, Aris

Bailey, Robert

Bethlenfalvy, Peter

Blais, Stephen

Bouma, Will

Bresee, Ric

Byers, Rick

Calandra, Paul

Cho, Raymond Sung Joon

Cho, Stan

Clancy, Aislinn

Clark, Steve

Coe, Lorne

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Dowie, Andrew

Downey, Doug

Dunlop, Jill

Fedeli, Victor

Flack, Rob

Fraser, John

Gallagher Murphy, Dawn

Grewal, Hardeep Singh

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Mike

Hazell, Andrea

Holland, Kevin

Hsu, Ted

Jones, Sylvia

Jones, Trevor

Jordan, John

Kanapathi, Logan

Ke, Vincent

Kerzner, Michael S.

Kusendova-Bashta, Natalia

Leardi, Anthony

Martin, Robin

McCarthy, Todd J.

McCrimmon, Karen

McGregor, Graham

Mulroney, Caroline

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pang, Billy

Parsa, Michael

Pierre, Natalie

Pinsonneault, Steve

Quinn, Nolan

Rae, Matthew

Rickford, Greg

Riddell, Brian

Romano, Ross

Sabawy, Sheref

Sandhu, Amarjot

Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh

Sarrazin, Stéphane

Saunderson, Brian

Schreiner, Mike

Scott, Laurie

Shamji, Adil

Smith, Dave

Smith, David

Smith, Laura

Thanigasalam, Vijay

Thompson, Lisa M.

Tibollo, Michael A.

Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.

Wai, Daisy

Williams, Charmaine A.

Yakabuski, John

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): All those opposed to the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Armstrong, Teresa J.

Begum, Doly

Bell, Jessica

Bourgouin, Guy

French, Jennifer K.

Gélinas, France

Glover, Chris

Harden, Joel

Jama, Sarah

Karpoche, Bhutila

Mamakwa, Sol

Pasma, Chandra

Rakocevic, Tom

Sattler, Peggy

Shaw, Sandy

Stiles, Marit

Tabuns, Peter

Taylor, Monique

Vaugeois, Lise

West, Jamie

Wong-Tam, Kristyn

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): The ayes are 69; the nays are 21.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I declare the motion carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Pursuant to the order of the House dated November 28, 2024, the bill is ordered for third reading.

Day of Reflection for Indian Residential Schools Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la Journée de réflexion sur les pensionnats indiens

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 221,

An Act to proclaim the Day of Reflection for Indian Residential Schools and to amend various statutes to establish the Day of Reflection for Indian Residential Schools as a provincial holiday / Projet de loi 221, Loi proclamant la Journée de réflexion sur les pensionnats indiens et modifiant diverses lois afin d’instituer cette journée de réflexion comme jour férié provincial.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1211 to 1216.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Members will take their seats.

On November 28, 2024, Mr. Mamakwa moved second reading of Bill 221,

An Act to proclaim the Day of Reflection for Indian Residential Schools and to amend various statutes to establish the Day of Reflection for Indian Residential Schools as a provincial holiday.

All those in favour, please rise and remain standing until recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Armstrong, Teresa J.

Begum, Doly

Bell, Jessica

Blais, Stephen

Bourgouin, Guy

Burch, Jeff

Clancy, Aislinn

Fraser, John

French, Jennifer K.

Gélinas, France

Glover, Chris

Harden, Joel

Hazell, Andrea

Hsu, Ted

Jama, Sarah

Karpoche, Bhutila

Mamakwa, Sol

McCrimmon, Karen

Pasma, Chandra

Rakocevic, Tom

Sattler, Peggy

Schreiner, Mike

Shamji, Adil

Shaw, Sandy

Stiles, Marit

Tabuns, Peter

Taylor, Monique

Vaugeois, Lise

West, Jamie

Wong-Tam, Kristyn

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): All those opposed, please rise and remain standing until recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Allsopp, Tyler

Babikian, Aris

Bailey, Robert

Bethlenfalvy, Peter

Bouma, Will

Bresee, Ric

Byers, Rick

Calandra, Paul

Cho, Raymond Sung Joon

Cho, Stan

Clark, Steve

Coe, Lorne

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Dowie, Andrew

Downey, Doug

Dunlop, Jill

Fedeli, Victor

Flack, Rob

Gallagher Murphy, Dawn

Grewal, Hardeep Singh

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Mike

Holland, Kevin

Jones, Sylvia

Jones, Trevor

Jordan, John

Kanapathi, Logan

Kerzner, Michael S.

Kusendova-Bashta, Natalia

Leardi, Anthony

Martin, Robin

McCarthy, Todd J.

McGregor, Graham

Mulroney, Caroline

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pang, Billy

Parsa, Michael

Pierre, Natalie

Pinsonneault, Steve

Quinn, Nolan

Rae, Matthew

Rickford, Greg

Riddell, Brian

Romano, Ross

Sabawy, Sheref

Sandhu, Amarjot

Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh

Sarrazin, Stéphane

Saunderson, Brian

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Dave

Smith, David

Smith, Laura

Thanigasalam, Vijay

Thompson, Lisa M.

Tibollo, Michael A.

Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.

Wai, Daisy

Williams, Charmaine A.

Yakabuski, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): The ayes are 30; the nays are 60.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I declare the motion lost.

Second reading negatived.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): No further business. This House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1219 to 1300.

Estimates / Supplementary estimates

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): I recognize the President of the Treasury Board on a point of order.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Madam Speaker, I have messages from the Honourable J. Michal Fairburn, the Administrator of the province of Ontario, signed by her own hand.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): The Administrator of the province of Ontario transmits estimates of certain sums required for the services of the province for the year ending 31 March, 2025, and recommends them to the Legislative Assembly.

The Administrator of the province of Ontario transmits supplementary estimates of certain sums required for the services of the province for the year ending 31 March, 2025, and recommends them to the Legislative Assembly.

Dated Toronto, 28 November, 2024.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Ric Bresee: It is my great pleasure to introduce my constituency manager, Anita Ramski, and my newest member of the team, Zander Van Aspern, who has joined us just recently.

Introduction of Government Bills

More Convenient Care Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 pour plus de soins commodes

Ms. Jones moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 231,

An Act to enact or amend various Acts related to health care / Projet de loi 231, Loi visant à édicter ou à modifier diverses lois en ce qui concerne les soins de santé.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Would the minister like to make a brief statement?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: The More Convenient Care Act, if passed, would take the next steps in the province’s plan to provide more people with the right publicly funded care in the right place by making it easier to access your health care records, building healthier communities and bolstering the province’s health care workforce today and in the future.

Introduction of Bills

Protecting Seniors’ Rights in Care Homes Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la protection des droits des personnes âgées dans les maisons de soins

Ms. Pasma moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 232,

An Act to amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 respecting tenancies in care homes / Projet de loi 232, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2006 sur la location à usage d’habitation et la Loi de 2010 sur les maisons de retraite en ce qui concerne les locations dans les maisons de soins.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Would the member like to make a brief statement?

Ms. Chandra Pasma: The bill amends

part IX of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, in relation to care services and meals in care homes to ensure that charges for care services and meals must be consistent with information provided by landlords to new and existing tenants, and to require the landlord comply with other duties respecting information packages, such as requirements to ensure that information packages are revised as needed and that copies are made available to others.

New

section 141.1 is added to the act to permit landlords and tenants of a care home to enter into agreements for the provision of additional care services or meals. A tenant may, in accordance with this section, require a landlord to reduce or stop the provision of any such care services or meals after the agreement has been entered into.

New

section 149.1 is added to the act to place restrictions on increases to charges for providing care services and meals, both in terms of frequency and amount.

The bill also amends

section 49 of the Retirement Homes Act, 2010, to require a licensee of a retirement home that is ceasing operation to communicate to residents that they continue to have the rights of a tenant under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, and that notice that the retirement home will cease to operate does not constitute a notice of termination under this act.

Motions

House sittings

Mr. Steve Clark: I move that, pursuant to standing order 7(c), the House shall continue to meet past the ordinary hour of adjournment until midnight on the following dates: Monday, December 2; Tuesday, December 3; Wednesday, December 4; Thursday, December 5; Monday, December 9; Tuesday, December 10; Wednesday, December 11; and Thursday, December 12.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Petitions

Public transit

Mr. Joel Harden: I’m very thankful to Jenna Bartlett and others who have signed a considerable amount of petitions that I have in my hands here about funding public transit. This is an issue that I believe has legacy across this House, with former Premier Bill Davis, who believed in the principle of funding operational transit 50-50 between Queen’s Park and the municipalities. That’s a great tradition, and what the signatories of this petition are asking the province to do is to bring that back into being now, because we are way out of whack with that.

The municipalities are struggling, certainly in my city in Ottawa, with a $120-million hole in financing operational transit. They need more support from this House.

I want to thank all the signees of this petition for bringing operational transit funding to my attention. I will sign the petition and send it to the Clerks’ table with page Macarius.

Social assistance

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: I’m honoured to rise in this House to present this petition, which is entitled “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.” It has been submitted on behalf of Dr. Sally Palmer, who has collected a number of signatures.

The petition specifically is about increasing the social assistance rates in Ontario, recognizing that the current rates for the Ontario Works program, as well as the Ontario Disability Support Program, is well below the poverty line. It does not meet the rising rates of inflation. It also says that Ontarians are struggling to make ends meet.

It also mentions that the CERB program during the pandemic was earmarked that the basic income should be $2,000 a month, and the social assistance programs, as noted, are well below that. So this petition is calling on this House to double the OW as well as the ODSP rates.

Sexual violence and harassment

Ms. Peggy Sattler: We are one week into the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, and I am very pleased to present this petition calling on the Ontario Legislature to pass the Safe Night Out Act.

The petition notes the sexual violence epidemic that so many are experiencing in this province, especially women who are in the ages of 15 to 24. It also highlights that many women experience unwanted sexual advances when they are socializing in a bar, a restaurant or any kind of licensed establishment.

It therefore calls on the Legislative Assembly to pass the Safe Night Out Act, which would provide bystander intervention training to servers, bartenders, security and supervisors or managers of all licensed establishments in Ontario. The bill would also strengthen protections for servers from unwanted sexual harassment and violence and require establishments to develop and post policies on how they will respond to sexual violence and harassment in their establishment.

I am completely supportive of this bill. I’ll affix my signature and will send it to the table with page Autumn.

Employment standards

MPP Jamie West: I didn’t have a chance to count them, but I have literally a banker’s box full of petitions. I’ll just grab a stack of them over here.

The petition is entitled “Enough is Enough: Decent Work for All.” Basically, what they talk about is that during COVID-19, it really exposed all the ways that low wages, temporary jobs, unstable work, precarious work and unsafe working conditions become a health threat not just for the workers, but for our community in general. They also talk about how systemic racism in the labour market means that people of colour are overrepresented in low-wage work, precarious and dangerous employment, and they’re more likely not to have paid sick days or benefits and are involuntarily working part-time—that adage of part-time full-time with none of the benefits of full-time.

They have several requests that they have, the undersigned, to the Legislative Assembly. The first one is, they’re asking for a minimum of 10 permanent, employer-paid emergency leave days and an additional 14 days when there’s a public health outbreak, a large-scale one like COVID. They would like the wage floor raised to $20 per hour without exceptions. They want to promote full-time work, so instead of several part-time workers, you have full-time work.

Then they want to set minimum hours of work each week, so that two weeks in advance, they’ll know when they’re working and it frees up that precariousness. If it is precarious, you have the ability to understand what your

schedule is going to be two weeks in advance.

They want to legislate equal pay and benefits for equal work, so that you know everyone in the workplace is making the same amount, and that means that someone working full-time makes the same wage as someone who is a temp worker.

They want to protect all workers from unjust firing, wrongful dismissal, and they want to ensure that migrant and undocumented workers can assert labour law rights. They want to make sure, as my colleague has brought forward, that gig workers aren’t misclassified and that they have access to all employment laws without exemption.

They want to make companies responsible for working conditions and collective bargaining when they use temp agencies. Many unscrupulous companies will use a temp agency to take the fall for them when something isn’t happening properly, and this gives the worker some strength so that you can’t sidestep this.

Similarly, they want the companies to be made financially responsible under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act for deaths and injuries of temp agency workers, as the parent company is responsible for all workers, even if they’re coming from temporary agencies. They want to make companies responsible for working conditions and collective bargaining when they use temp agencies. They would also be financially responsible under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.

They want to end the practice of using temporary agency workers indefinitely. That means that if you hire from temp agencies, they’re no longer considered temporary after three months of use; they become full-time workers. That makes the work more meaningful for those workers as well.

They want to make it easier for all workers to join unions. They want them to be able to sign cards. They want to allow them to form unions across franchises and subcontractors, and they want that broader-based sectorial bargaining that’s very common in the States, actually.

And they want to enforce all laws proactively through adequate public staffing and meaningful penalties for employers who violate the laws, and that means funding our employment standard agency officers to be able to do their job to enforce the act that already exists.

I obviously support this petition and the many petitions that are right here. I will affix this signature, and I will help Madhaav get them to the table.

Access to health care

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Petitions? The member from Toronto–Centre.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: Thank you very much, Speaker. As you noted, we have just recently commemorated the International Trans Day of Remembrance, as of last week. This petition I will present to the House is entitled “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.” Those who have signed this petition are calling on this government to recognize the significant challenges in accessing health care faced by those who are trans, transgender, two-spirited, non-binary and gender-diverse.

They recognize that everyone in Ontario deserves access to health care that’s friendly, competent and affirming. They also suggest that this House recognize that people shouldn’t have to fight for basic access to health care, that they should be able to receive it as needed and that they should be supported when trying to access it.

They want this House to recognize that gender-affirming health care is life-saving health care. They are calling on this government to support the reintroduction of a private member’s bill to create an inclusive and representative committee to advise the Minister of Health on how to realize accessible and equitable access to health care and to ensure that gender-affirming health care is paid under the OHIP program.

I would like to attach my signature to this petition and send this back to the table with page Elissa.

Addiction services

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I am proud to present this petition that was developed by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario and has been signed by many residents of the city of Toronto and other communities across the province.

The petition calls for the continued operation of supervised consumption services and associated harm reduction programs. And the reason for the petition is to recognize that, every two and a half hours in this province, someone dies from the toxic drug supply, and the supervised consumption and treatment services have been critical in helping prevent thousands of deaths, certainly in my community. The petition recognizes that the closure of these sites will increase the number of preventable deaths in this province, emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

It also recognizes that the experts are calling for continued funding and operation of supervised consumption services as an evidence-based harm reduction treatment program. And it calls on the Legislative Assembly to reverse the decision to close the sites and ensure that publicly funded, evidence-based treatment is available for all who want to be treated for drug use in this province.

I fully support this petition, affix my signature and will give it to page Ekam to take to the table.

Addiction services

MPP Jamie West: I have a petition similar to my colleague’s. I didn’t count them, but there’s between 25 and 30 pages here. It is a petition for continued operation of supervised consumption services and associated harm reduction programs.

Basically, there are some sobering statistics here where a person in Ontario dies from the toxic drug supply every two and a half hours, and the supervised consumption sites, also known as consumption and treatment service sites, have been instrumental in preventing thousands of deaths from the toxic drug supply.

They’re saying that the closure of supervised consumption sites will increase the number of preventable deaths, injuries and hospitalizations. And they know that these sites offer fellowship and trust, basically, that allow access to other health and social services, including addiction treatment, so keeping people alive so they’re able to get the treatment they need. Also, the provincial commission review of South Riverdale CHC found it desirable to maintain and enhance funding for the supervised consumption site.

They also say that the closure of the supervised consumption sites is a withdrawal of health services for people who use drugs. They declare it as a denial of the right to health care, and that closing these sites will lead to an increase in drug use in public spaces because it’s not within a statement, so when you talk about finding paraphernalia in the public, you’re more likely to find it when these sites are closed. And where health care should be emphasized, prevention as well as treatment—so both around preventing people from dying and the wraparound care they need for the continuum of care.

They’re petitioning the assembly of Ontario to reverse the decision to close all the sites and basically unfund them. They want to ensure they remain operational and adequately funded, as well as increasing funding for the sites, so they can provide more services, including inhalation and other harm reduction services, and to ensure access to voluntary, publicly funded, not-for-profit, evidence-based treatment.

This petition was developed by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. I trust these professionals. I’ll affix my signature, and I will provide it to page Ryan for the table.

Addiction services

Mr. Joel Harden: Rather like my friends from London West and Sudbury, I also have a petition, thanks to the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, that is talking about continuing supervised consumption sites and making sure that we look after our neighbours who are struggling. I just want to thank Zoe Bergeron, Melanie Martins and the folks who gave this petition to me.

Just to acknowledge that in my city too—I just recently had a meeting with residents in Centretown who are very upset at what they see every single day: people suffering. What I have said to the minister responsible, who I believe cares a great deal about people struggling with mental health and addictions, is that what we need are these HART hubs the minister has proposed, but also maintaining these safe places, as my friends have said, so people don’t die from the toxic drug supply. I’ve talked to too many parents who have lost their kids. I have talked to too many friends who have lost their friends. It’s unnecessary, Speaker.

While I salute the compassion the minister has proposed in this debate with this HART hub model, with the idea of counselling and employment services and housing and food support—that is all great, but we have to make sure people don’t die from the poisoned supply that we have in our streets. It was confirmed to me recently by members of the Ottawa police force, who are seeing this every single day when they walk around our communities: people who are literally overdosing because of the criminal element in our city that is selling a substance to someone they know to be lethal.

So that’s what I want to say, Speaker. I want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. These folks are on the front line, many of whom work in our CTS site in Ottawa Centre. They know, as do our first responders. So it’s a plea to the government, through this petition, that they listen to the signees of this petition, make sure we maintain our CTS treatment services and offer a full spectrum of care and support to people who we want to save. We don’t want them to leave this Earth; we want them to wake up tomorrow and know they’re loved, and get them to seek support and treatment.

Thank you. I’ll send it to the Clerks’ table with Maadhav.

House sittings

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): 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, and therefore the afternoon routine on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, shall commence at 1 p.m.

Orders of the Day

Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à accroître la sécurité dans les rues et à renforcer les collectivités

Mr. Kerzner moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 223,

An Act to enact two Acts and to amend various Acts with respect to public safety and the justice system / Projet de loi 223, Loi édictant deux lois et modifiant diverses lois relatives à la sécurité publique et au système judiciaire.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): I turn back to the minister to begin debate.

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: It’s an honour to rise on third reading, and final reading, of Bill 223, the government’s proposed Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, 2024.

I’ve said this many times: There is no greater inherent right that we all have across Ontario, regardless of where we live, than that inherent right to live safely in our homes and communities: that right we all have to make sure that when we wake up our kids in the morning, they will go to school safely; that we will be able to go to work; that we will be able to come home at the end of the day, to shop and to play with our kids and check in on our seniors and loved ones, and have a place to pray safely.

It has been a privilege of a lifetime to stand alongside our Premier, Premier Doug Ford, prioritizing our public safety morning, noon and night. And our government will not stop. When others told us to give it up, find another priority, go in another direction, we said no. We said we will fight auto theft and we will fight it hard. We will fight to make sure that the federal government knows how serious—they need to change the bail laws. We don’t want violent and repeat offenders on our streets.

When they told us to stop and not invest more money at the Ontario Police College so that we could graduate more constables to keep us safe, we kept going. When they told us to sit down, we stood up. When they told us to be quiet, we made sure our voices were heard.

Ontarians trust our government, under Premier Ford, to keep them safe.

Madam Speaker, there are a number of important things in Bill 223 that are important—and I want to thank my colleagues and the other ministers, the member from Thornhill, the member from Haliburton, and others who contributed to this bill.

There’s something that became very personal to me. It’s when I got to meet the Stephenson family—the parents of the late Christopher Stephenson, who was taken on Father’s Day a long time ago, in 1988, and was brutally murdered. It was Premier Mike Harris who came forward over 20 years ago with Christopher’s Law (Sex Offender Registry). The bill was named in memory of Christopher Stephenson, an 11-year-old boy who was the victim of an unspeakable tragedy. We go through times in our lives when we can’t actually believe they’re happening.

There’s a surrealness when we are elected to this amazing House of democracy, but when we have moments that become personal and real—when I met the Stephensons, it was overwhelming.

This change that we’re making in Bill 223, amongst other things, closes the loop on one’s ability to change their name, to hide—to think it was okay with what they did, and they can re-create themselves under another identity. I’m so glad that under our changes, under Bill 223, we’re closing that.

Madam Speaker, I’ll end my remarks where I started. It is a privilege to be the Solicitor General for Ontario and to stand with Premier Ford morning, noon and night, to do everything we can to be that trusted voice for Ontarians—that our government will not stop, we will not rest, we will not be silent in our quest for public safety for everyone. This is our inherent right. Our government will do everything to make sure that right is fulfilled.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Further debate?

Mr. John Fraser: It’s a pleasure to speak to Bill 223. Public safety is important to Ontarians, important to Ontario families, and there are measures in this bill that are going to help in that regard. I do agree with some of the things around bail reform. But one of the things I have the most concern about in this bill is that while the government is pointing the finger towards Ottawa, it’s doing nothing about court delays—nothing. We know that court delays force judges to do things like worry about the constitutionality of whether someone gets a fair trial. We know it’s a problem.

So I would take what the government is doing more to heart—and I’m going to support the bill—if they actually were doing something on court delays. Everybody can shrug it off and say, “It’s not our fault.” Well, it is. It’s that simple. Fix court delays.

I know the government is planning to build more jails. The important thing is that jails are safe places for the people who are there, the people who work in there, the correctional officers, the nurses, the administrators. They need to be safe places, and when they’re not safe places, then what happens is, we get somebody either getting a reduced sentence or not being sent there.

I know about jails because my dad used to work in the corrections system for a long time. The most important thing is calm and order. I know the Solicitor General knows that, and I’m sure that’s what he’s aspiring to achieve in each and every correctional institution. They have to be safe places. I want to reiterate that.

Now, the thing that I have the most concern about in this bill—and I voted for it—is what’s happening with safe consumption sites. I agree: They shouldn’t be that close to schools. I think we all agree on that. Safe consumption sites are there to save lives. You can’t treat somebody if they’re dead. It’s that simple. So while I’m supporting this bill, it’s incumbent upon the government to ensure that there is not a large gap in service.

I know the government has got RFPs out, and they’re looking for people for the new program, which includes addictions treatment and counselling, but if there’s a big gap, if people can’t go to a place where it’s safe for them, we’re not going to be able to treat them, because they’re not going to be alive. That’s the biggest concern I have with the bill.

I know the members on the other side were a bit excited that I voted with them a couple of times this morning, but make no mistake about it: I know what the game at hand is here, but we’ve got to make sure that those people who are suffering from addictions, who are at risk of dying—they’re people’s sons and daughters and mothers and fathers. We’ve got to make sure that as of March 31 this year, we don’t have a gigantic gap in service that’s going to result in more people dying and not being able to get addictions treatment: those sons and daughters, those mothers and fathers, those aunts and uncles, those friends and neighbours.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Further debate?

Ms. Laura Smith: It’s an honour for me to be here and speak to this bill, the Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act. This significant bill includes a multi-level approach in assisting our police to better track offenders, including measures and amendments that will seek to enhance Christopher’s Law, which is the basis for Ontario’s Sex Offender Registry. This is, quite simply, positive news for Ontarians, especially our most vulnerable: our children. It provides for better monitoring of those who have committed offences, giving our police partners stronger capabilities to track offenders, including those who have committed heinous crimes against our children.

For the purposes of my remarks today, I’m going to focus o