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March 28, 2023

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2023-Mar-28 vol. A (PDF)

L058A - Tue 28 Mar 2023 / Mar 28 mar 2023

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 28 March 2023 Mardi 28 mars 2023

Orders of the Day

Building a Strong Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2023 / Loi de 2023 visant à bâtir un Ontario fort (mesures budgétaires)

Members’ Statements

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Melinda Moote

Health care post-secondary education

Transgender Day of Visibility

Lambton county medical officer of health

Victor Lei

Krista DuChene

Health care workers / Travailleurs de la santé

Arthur Boon

Jeff Gustafson

Introduction of Visitors

Question Period

Optometry services / Health care

Social services

Autism treatment

Public transit

Assisted housing

Broadband infrastructure

Health care

Land use planning

Northern Ontario development

Education funding / Violence in schools

Health care

Disaster relief

Ontario Place

Senior citizens

Protection for workers

Protection for workers

Member’s birthday

Correction of record

Motions

Consideration of Bill 74

Petitions

Access to health care

Volunteer service awards

Ferry service

Volunteer service awards

Social assistance

Volunteer service awards

Special-needs students

Volunteer service awards

Education funding

Subventions pour les arts et la culture

Orders of the Day

Building a Strong Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2023 / Loi de 2023 visant à bâtir un Ontario fort (mesures budgétaires)

The House met at 0900.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Good morning. Let us pray.

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Building a Strong Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2023 / Loi de 2023 visant à bâtir un Ontario fort (mesures budgétaires)

Resuming the debate adjourned on March 27, 2023, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 85,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to amend various statutes / Projet de loi 85, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à modifier diverses lois.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): When we last debated Bill 85, the member for Don Valley West had the floor. I recognize, again, the member for Don Valley West to continue.

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Continuing where I left off yesterday—we need a government that invests in young, high-potential companies. An innovation hub told me that a government contract is more valuable than a grant because it gives them credibility when they go to sell in other markets. We need a government that sees that opportunity and does what it can to support these companies. But we’re not seeing that kind of creativity with this government.

Canada’s productivity is lagging far behind other major economies, with the OECD ranking us last for future economic GDP per capita growth amongst advanced economies. Ontario plays a role in that. It has been an economic engine for Canada, and we are not keeping up. We must keep firing on all cylinders to make sure that Ontario does its job to be the roaring engine of the Canadian economy. That could include continuing to drive work to remove barriers in freer interprovincial trade. Ontario should be leading these conversations, yet there was no mention of this opportunity in this latest budget document.

As Stephen Poloz, former governor of the Bank of Canada, said at an initiative led by the Minister of Economic Development in 2021, “Politics is the art of the possible. I see no reason why this isn’t possible.” Unlocking this potential would create thousands of dollars per person in GDP in this province.

Speaker, let’s talk about the $4 billion this government has once again put in contingency funds. This government has a predilection for squirreling more away for a rainy day than any other government before it. Clearly, they have no plan to use that money to invest back into our economy and the people of Ontario. Maybe that’s why the Premier said, last year, “The worst place you can ever give your money to is the government.” That $4 billion would go a long way in making a difference in people’s lives.

If the government repeals their unconstitutional Bill 124, they could use this money and the millions they are spending to fight it on paying our health care and other public workers more than a 1% raise. It could go toward the construction of new affordable housing, so that we can provide safe housing to the thousands of homeless people struggling across this province. It could go towards restoring the universal basic income pilot. It could help address the school repair backlog and the surgical backlog.

It could go towards addressing the shortfall in municipal budgets and helping municipalities large and small to meaningfully address the opioid crisis. It could go towards key transit projects like the Eglinton East LRT in Scarborough or the waterfront LRT. It could go towards restoring OSAP funding to the more inclusionary levels under the previous Liberal government, and to supporting arts and culture to enrich our lives. It could go towards advancing employee ownership trusts, digital health innovation, and helping drive climate resilience and the energy transition.

There’s a long list of unmet needs under this government, and spending our money wisely to support the people of Ontario and drive growth in our economy would help lift everyone up.

Instead, individuals, families, health care and education systems, Ontario productivity and our future economy will continue to struggle under this government’s latest budget. If people can no longer afford to live in Ontario, and this government is not investing in people and real solutions to make Ontario the roaring engine of our economy, why would people choose to stay?

Unfortunately, for a lot of Ontarians, this budget means more housing unaffordability, more suffering from the increased cost of living, and more long wait times for care—more unmet needs.

The families of Ontario will not feel any balance from the budget, and that is nothing to celebrate.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): We’re going to move to questions and answers.

Mr. Rick Byers: I thank the member for her comments on the budget. I certainly respect, given her commercial background involvement, the comments she made. The member talked a lot about productivity and how we can make the economy stronger.

I’d point out a number of things in this budget we have done—in particular, the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, which is a 10% refundable corporate tax credit for Canadian-controlled private corporations that will get investment in Ontario, increase productivity. There is the Ontario Junior Exploration Program, the savings for small businesses in our reduction of red tape—on and on and on. Those things are attracting huge investments—$16 billion for our automotive sector, in particular. Does not the member think those things do, in fact, enhance productivity in this budget?

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Thanks for the question.

As I mentioned, I do believe that those things drive productivity but that those aren’t the only sectors in our economy that we need to pay attention to. As I also mentioned, those companies in the manufacturing sector will only benefit from that credit if they actually decide to invest, and investing takes confidence. Business confidence is at an all-time low right now under this government.

I think what we need to be doing is focusing on the things that can build up investor confidence, business confidence. That includes making sure that we do have a strong health care system, a strong education system; that we’re investing in our post-secondary education institutions and driving advancement towards a clean economy, a green economy, so that those businesses are here and willing to stay.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Next question?

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: I’d like to thank the member from Don Valley West for her comments.

I had the opportunity to travel the province with the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, with the member, during which we heard from no delegation in support of the wage-suppression and wage-restraint legislation of Bill 124. In fact, it’s concerning that the government seems ideologically fixed on this costly legal battle. I believe that delegations indicated that Bill 124 was demeaning, was degrading to health care workers—and, in fact, the word that was used that will stick with me forever was that Bill 124 was “humiliating.”

Is it fiscally prudent for the government to continue to appeal legislation that has been defeated in court?

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Thank you for the question.

I think the member has made a very good point—that, of course, it’s not fiscally prudent. The government is very likely to lose this court battle; it has been deemed unconstitutional. In addition to that, we know that it’s driving workers out of this province. We heard that in the pre-budget consultations. We heard how it’s forcing people who have full-time jobs to seek support in food banks. So we know that it’s not only unconstitutional, but that it’s damaging our economy, and spending probably in the tens of millions of dollars, if it’s consistent with what they’ve spent on other appeals, is really throwing good money after bad.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): The next question?

Mr. John Fraser: I want to note that the member is reminding us of the Premier’s statement that the worst place you can send your money to is government. I guess he doesn’t fully understand that Ontario’s school system, our schools, our colleges and our universities have made us great, that our publicly funded—

Interjection.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): I apologize to the member. I’ve just noticed that you’re not sitting in your seat, and you can’t be speaking if you’re not.

Mr. John Fraser: Sorry; I got disoriented there for a moment.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Please continue.

Mr. John Fraser: Clearly, there’s a misunderstanding of what government is here to do—it’s what we do for each other.

But in this budget, it’s very clear that the message is, if you have a child with special needs in school and their needs aren’t being met, you’re on your own. If they’re having challenges with mental health, you’re on your own. If they’re just simply falling behind, the government is saying to you, “You’re on your own.” If you need paid sick days, you’re on your own. If you’re a senior looking for eye care, you’re on your own.

My question is, what does the overdependence on contingencies and reserves in this budget mean to Ontario families?

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Thank you for the question.

I think the member has nailed it on the head here when he says that people are on their own.

Again, that money is basically being stored away for a rainy day and potential risks that the government talks about. Well, again, those risks are here. As you’ve mentioned, children are suffering from the pandemic. Their mental health is suffering, and they’re being told, “Here’s a couple of hundred dollars to go get some tutoring help.” That will not advance their learning. Seniors are being told, “Wait for your eye care appointments.” People are being told to keep waiting for their surgeries.

That money could be invested in our economy, invested in our health care system, invested in helping the homeless, whom we know are struggling, and that’s affecting all of us more broadly in our economy.

The member is quite accurate in saying that that money could be better spent under many different programs, instead of squirrelling it away for a rainy day.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Next question?

Ms. Laura Smith: I want to respectfully thank the member opposite.

I have spoken to countless businesses in Thornhill, and they are in desperate need of skilled trades workers, and we know Ontario needs skilled trades workers as a whole.

Will the opposition please support the proposed investment of $25 million in the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program so that Ontario can welcome more newcomers with skills needed to build Ontario?

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Thank you for the question.

Certainly, investing in new immigrants to Ontario and to Canada is important.

I know the government likes to point out that if we vote against the budget, we’re voting against the whole thing. I certainly don’t think that’s the case.

I think the focus really needs to be on keeping the workers we do have. The government is focused on finding new workers. That’s because they’re driving away workers. They’ve driven away workers in the health care sector. They’ve driven away education workers. And they’re driving away daycare workers, so that’s actually preventing us from achieving the full potential we can around the federal government’s program for daycare.

While I support supporting new immigrants to Ontario, we need to also make sure that we’re fighting for the workers we have today.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Next question?

Mr. Joel Harden: I want to thank the member for her remarks.

I’m thinking about the implications of the government that, in its budget last week, announced no new money for operating public transit in the province of Ontario—just commitments to these trains they’re building that may happen at one point somewhere. We know about them in Ottawa. They don’t tend to work very well when they’re built by the consultants this government likes.

A 16-year-old, sadly, tragically lost their life this past Saturday, and people have been sounding alarm bells that we urgently need money into public transit so the transit system works well and is safe.

I’m wondering if the member has any comments about how we can make sure that the public transit system that we do have actually works well and is safe?

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Thank you for the question.

It was really heartbreaking to hear the interview with the mother of the 16-year-old boy who died. She was very brave and spoke up about the need not only for investment in our transit systems but for investments in the people who are vulnerable—the homeless man who allegedly killed her son.

So I think that, on two fronts, this budget lets us down. It is not investing in our transit systems. There are broken promises related to new lines that the previous budgets have laid out that are not here.

We know that the TTC is having to cut service, and that only leads to more unsafe conditions on our transit systems, because with fewer people around and longer wait times, we know that that can lead to more issues.

Absolutely, the member is correct that we should be investing in public transit and the surrounding supports to make sure the homeless are supported.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): We have time for one last quick question.

Mr. Joel Harden: I’m just wondering if the member, given our agreement on this, can protect some space in this conversation for this government.

From your perspective, where should the money be going? Should it be going into operating transit for the TTC? Should it be going to helping folks who are homeless get access to safe, affordable homes with wraparound supports?

Give these folks, who seem to be fixated on trains that have not been built yet and are late, an idea of where the money should be going to.

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Thank you to the member for the question.

We need to be making sure that if we build transit, we actually can run it. We can’t run it without sufficient operating budgets. We know that the TTC is one of the most underfunded transit systems in North America, and I expect that’s probably the case for others, like in Ottawa.

Again, having government support for that transit system will provide safety, but we also need to talk about how many people are homeless, what kind of supports they need, what kind of housing they need. Let’s look at things like small homes that can be affordable, that can be done quickly, to put a roof over their heads so that they can then get the help that they need.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): We’re going to move to further debate.

Mr. Dave Smith: The unfortunate

part is that I only have 20 minutes. This is such a good budget that I would have loved to have had the 60-minute leadoff to talk about this. There are so many things that we’re doing in this to improve the lives of people in Ontario.

I’ll try to focus as much as I can on my own riding, because I think there are a number of things that this document lays out that will improve the lives of the people in Peterborough–Kawartha.

We know that we have, across Ontario, an addictions crisis. Some people want to refer to it as an opioid crisis, but the reality is, it’s an addictions crisis—it’s not just opioids. It starts with different things, and it leads to a lot of other challenges. Those challenges affect not just the individuals, but their families.

I’ve said before in this House that any person who overdoses and dies is someone’s son or daughter, and could potentially be someone’s mother or father or brother or sister. They are a family member.

We’ve taken this very, very seriously. Almost half a billion dollars is being allocated to it.

What does that mean for communities like mine? We know that in Peterborough, last year, we averaged one overdose death a week; 52 people in a city of 85,000 overdosed and died. The investments that we’re putting into mental health and addictions are things that will make a positive difference. What we’ve done in our community over the last year and a half are things that need to be celebrated.

We have a mobile mental health and addictions bus—we actually have two of them; Peterborough is part of the pilot project for this—taking mental health and addictions supports out into the community, where people need the service, when they need the service, paid for by OHIP. It goes out into Peterborough county, Northumberland county, Haliburton, which relieves some of the stress in the city of Peterborough, because the services are coming right out to you. We’re one of the pilots for this; there are three of them across the province.

This is something that’s replicable and will make a positive difference, because if we can intervene before it is a crisis, we never develop to that crisis point. We get the supports to the individual, again, when they need it, where they need it.

These are things that are outside-of-the-box thinking. It’s not something that is being done widespread across the province. It’s not something that was widespread across anywhere in Canada. And yet, this government is investing funds specifically for that, and will demonstrate that this is a service that will work. This is a service that will reduce the number of individuals who find themselves in crisis.

But we know that we do have people who are in crisis right now—and that’s where some of these other investments will be. We know that harm reduction is one of those models that is a stopgap. It helps to build trust with an individual. It keeps them alive for a period of time. But it’s not the final solution. The final solution is developing ways to get people to treatment. That’s what this investment will do—create more treatment opportunities, more chances for people to get to treatment.

In my community, in 2020, 82% of the overdose deaths were in their own homes. These are people who would not be going to a consumption and treatment site. These are people who are not on the street. These are people who are not unhoused. These are your neighbours, and we’re providing supports for them, to get them into a better position.

We’ve heard the NDP talk about how heartless we are, as Conservatives—that we don’t do things that they want us to do.

Well, $202 million is being invested in the homelessness prevention fund. That’s an investment to change the narrative, to change the trajectory for some of these people, because we know that if we can get them to stable housing, if we can get them to a point where they feel valued, they will be far more productive.

We also know that one of the best social programs is a job, so we’ve done things in this budget to increase training, to increase the ability to get people to that next stage. Ready, Set, Go—that funding opportunity will provide education opportunities for a number of individuals who have been disadvantaged and get them to the next step, so that they can improve their lives.

But it’s not just about those social programs. We’re investing in job creation—the tax rebates, tax cuts for manufacturing. Manufacturing is something that we drove out of this province in droves for 15 years, when the Liberals were in power. We’re reversing that trend. We’re bringing companies back to Ontario. We’re repatriating a lot of that manufacturing, and we’re providing a tax benefit for companies—small companies—in manufacturing to accelerate that, so that more people have that opportunity for a good-paying job.

We know that by reducing taxes the way we have—over the last few years, we’ve heard repeatedly how horrible it was to put money back into people’s pockets, how horrible we were for not increasing taxes. We’re projecting record revenues for the province by cutting tax, and the reason we’re doing that is, you have more money in your pocket to spend; companies have more money to hire and produce; companies have more money to advertise, market and sell their products. And we’re seeing the benefits of that.

We have a record amount of spending in this province now. This budget is more than $200 billion, and we have a pathway to a balanced budget in a record time. Just last year, we talked about getting to a balanced budget in three years’ time. We’ll be at a balanced budget in a year, because we’re doing the right things. We’re saving people money.

There have been comments that we’re not doing enough to help the average person, that there’s nothing in this budget to help the average person. That is a completely false narrative.

When we were first elected in 2018, hydro rates, electricity rates in Ontario had risen from 2003—the lowest in North America—to 2018, the highest in North America. And if anyone in Ontario believes that you do not pay for electricity—that is a false statement. All of us are paying for electricity. But the relief we have put in there, $6.5 billion in relief on electricity charges, is money right back into the pocket of every single person in this province. It doesn’t matter whether you’re using electricity to turn on the lights or whether you’re using electricity to heat your home. All of us use electricity.

The opposition members want us to move to an electrified system, where we have electric cars. Well, guess what? Every single electric car has to be charged. And how do they charge that electric car? By plugging it into the grid. That is savings for every single person in this province. I know it’s a narrative that the NDP doesn’t want. I know it’s a narrative that the Liberals don’t want. They don’t want to talk about the good things we’re doing.

This budget supports every single person in this province. With the GAINS program, at least 100,000 more seniors will have more money back in their pockets because of that.

That’s what this budget does—it puts money back into people’s pockets. It gives them the ability to decide how they’re going to spend it. And that is how government should function.

With that, Madam Speaker, I’m going to turn my time over to the member for Windsor–Tecumseh.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): The member for Windsor–Tecumseh to continue.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: Today, I’m pleased and proud to rise to speak in favour of Bill 85.

One of the greatest privileges of serving here in our government is knowing that my community of Windsor–Tecumseh matters. Those who grow up in Windsor–Tecumseh and Windsor-Essex live in a persistent cycle of economic boom and bust. The opportunity to overcome this cycle is through sound government policy—policy that supports the attraction and retention of employers; policy that supports our wraparound and supportive social services; policy that helps people be their best. On these fronts, the budget delivers.

We know that, in this moment, there is significant economic challenge and uncertainty. But, despite it all, Ontario remains a beacon of hope, a place where the economy is resilient, where we have a government who knows that driving debt onto younger generations—both government and personal—is a poor choice.

Speaker, our plan is truly a responsible one. It helps people and businesses today through a targeted approach. It cares about future generations. It recognizes that we must be mindful of the consequences of our actions. It recognizes that we need to be prepared for the unexpected. It recognizes that we build Ontario up by attracting and protecting investments and jobs. It recognizes that we must not build and ignore, but rather, reinvest in hospitals, schools, transit, highways and infrastructure projects, and that should not cease.

Our plan addresses today’s challenges head-on, with worker training, connected and convenient health care, and better public services. Our plan offers hope where hope is hard to find. It offers a future where Ontario maintains strength and a resilient economy.

But the truth of the matter is, I don’t need to say much more about the budget on my own—I’ll let my community speak on this.

Mayor Drew Dilkens of Windsor celebrated the measures of the budget in an interview with the Windsor Star. He noted that measures designed to target labour market issues, health care wait times, and addictions and mental health will benefit the Windsor region. Mayor Dilkens noted, particularly with respect to the economy, the following:

“What the government is doing with respect to the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit will certainly help Ontario manufacturers. It certainly plays into all of the work that we’re doing behind the scenes to get new industrial land ready to support the types of investments we expect to see coming in Ontario, in addition to the EV battery supply chain projects that we see happening.

“This is really good news.

“I think you’re going to see a lot of uptake provincially with businesses looking to take advantage of that tax credit, but it means that we have to be ready on the land side and so that’s what we’re working on, is putting the building blocks together.

“It’s certainly good to know that the government is thinking forward about investments that will help drive business and investment decisions here in Ontario to help create more jobs and better pathways for people looking for work.”

On mental health and addictions, Mayor Dilkens welcomes the $425 million earmarked over three years for support to help the issues “playing out on the streets.”

On the government’s $72-million investment over the upcoming year to expand the number of publicly funded surgeries and procedures performed at community clinics—measures designed to reduce wait times—he noted, “All of those investments I think are very, very strong. Look at someone like Dr. Tayfour and the eye surgeries that he does as a model of how other surgeries can be performed outside of hospital, saving money and increasing the level of service that we all expect as Ontarians. This is good for our community.

“You’ve already seen traction initially with some of those types of investments, they’ll continue to grow but ultimately, (these investments) continue to improve the delivery of service for people who live in the city of Windsor.”

Indeed, Mayor Dilkens referenced Dr. Fouad Tayfour. Dr. Tayfour and Dr. Barry Emara are pillars of our health care community in Windsor-Essex. I call them health care experts. They operate the Windsor Surgical Centre in conjunction with Windsor Regional Hospital. It’s a tremendous success story that should be celebrated widely, not protested.

I can’t tell you, Speaker, how stunned I was to see the opposition stand outside Windsor Regional Hospital and vow to fight the efforts to get better public health care delivered faster to Windsor-Essex residents, as pioneered by Windsor Regional Hospital.

On the $202 million more for homelessness prevention, Mayor Dilkens said, “Premier, we are ready to put these $$ to work ASAP.”

My friends on this side of the House remind our government frequently to listen to the experts. I encourage everybody to listen to the experts, particularly with respect to health care services. I’m delighted to share what our local experts have to say.

David Musyj, president and CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, said, “As stated by the Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, Ontario and the rest of the world are continuing to face economic uncertainty.... These challenges have created pressures and risk for the people and businesses across Ontario.

“The last three years have been beyond difficult for everyone.

“I am very pleased to see the Ford government continues to recognize these facts and has made continued, ongoing and significant investments in health care across the whole system and also with respect to Ontario hospitals. The government has signalled a 4% base funding increase to hospitals.

“Windsor Regional Hospital’s current annual budget is in excess of $610 million. We will await the detailed funding letters which will provide exact details to Winsor Regional Hospital.

“Over the past couple of years, the Ford government has invested $30 million in Windsor Regional Hospital annually to fund 62 additional acute medical/surgical, critical care and acute mental health beds these past few years and for 2023-24. This is significant on its own and only one example of the ongoing health care investments the Ford government made to Windsor Regional Hospital.”

I will highlight this: “The Ford government has listened to every request made by Windsor Regional Hospital for operational funding, based on a business case, and has responded favourably to every one of these requests.

“At the same time, the Ford government reinforced multiple times in their 2023 budget its support for the new Windsor/Essex acute-care hospital and the Ouellette campus urgent care centre and ambulatory procedures. This project is scheduled to go to tender in 2025 and a ‘shovel in the ground’ is anticipated for 2026.”

To CEO Musyj and the Windsor Regional Hospital staff: Our government stands shoulder to shoulder with you in your efforts to take care of the people of our community.

I also want to highlight Bill Marra, CEO of Windsor’s Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. That’s our mental health facility and chronic care facility. Mr. Marra and I actually ran into each other on Saturday night at the hospice gala held at the Caboto Club, and he let me know how much he appreciated our government’s considerable investment in mental health and addictions. He wrote:

“I want to acknowledge and commend Premier Doug Ford and his government for the recent 2023 budget announcement which includes proposed investments in children’s mental health, adult mental health and addictions as well as supportive housing. His commitment to improving access to mental health care and supportive housing is a significant step forward for Ontario and it will have a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals and their families.

“Further to that, with the recent acknowledgement and investment of our provincial government recognizing HDGH as a centre of excellence in mental health and addictions care along with the expansion of 68 in-patient acute mental health beds due to arrive on our campus within the next few years, it is clear that this government understands the priorities ahead. As we continue to grapple with the long-term fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for mental health care and supportive housing has never been more pressing.

The pandemic exacerbated existing mental health and addiction challenges leaving many vulnerable individuals without the support they require. With this proposed investment strategy, the government of Ontario is taking a crucial step towards addressing this urgent need and providing much-needed relief for those who are struggling.”

Mr. Marra concluded—I won’t read it all—supportive of the supportive housing investment: “I applaud Premier Doug Ford and his government for taking this important step forward and improving our health care system in addition to the supportive housing strategy. We must continue to work together to build a healthier and more resilient Ontario for all Ontarians.”

Mr. Marra also noted that Hôtel-Dieu Grace is looking to construct a long-term-care facility.

I see I only have a minute and a half on the clock, so I’ll just finish off with some of the investments that haven’t been really heard in our community, with the absence of a government member. These great news stories are hard to find.

I’m happy to celebrate these investments in long-term care made by our government in the city of Windsor:

—36 new and 60 upgraded beds at Brouillette Manor in Tecumseh;

—40 new and 120 upgraded beds at DTOC-Leamington;

—85 new and 75 upgraded beds at an Arch home in Lakeshore;

—192 upgraded beds at a new Banwell Gardens Care Centre in Windsor;

—11 new beds and 181 upgraded beds at a new Berkshire Care Centre;

—88 new beds and 72 upgraded beds at a new Regency Park Long-Term Care Home.

Dr. Sonja Grbevski of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor-Essex county branch, has equally celebrated the investments made in this budget. She noted, “This budget commitment shows that the government understands the strain our sector is facing as we support Ontarians living with mental health and addictions challenges. We are grateful for this critical investment, which will help us to maintain a high quality of care for the individuals we serve in our community.”

Supportive comments have also been made by Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin, executive director of the Downtown Mission of Windsor; Tim Brady, owner of Brady’s pharmacy, speaking to the new measures for pharmacists; and Rakesh Naidu of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.

I could go on for probably another half hour on this.

My community supports our budget. I’m very happy to share the good news with my community.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): We’re going to move to questions.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Thank you to the members opposite for your comments on the budget.

I was genuinely heartened to hear the member from Peterborough–Kawartha spend so much time talking about the importance of people in crisis; I truly agree that that should be a priority for this government.

But I was really surprised to hear him say that the budget supports every single person in this province—to begin with, because I can list many people in this province that the budget does not support, but mainly because the budget does not support some of the people who are the most in crisis in our province, which is people who live with disabilities, people who are living on Ontario Works, who are living in such incredibly deep poverty that they are going hungry every day, who are using food banks in record numbers, who are unable to afford rent because the benefits that they are receiving are significantly lower than the rate of rent in the province.

Does the member not agree that, if we genuinely want to help people in crisis, we should start with the 900,000 Ontarians who are living in very deep poverty, and double the rates of Ontario Works and ODSP?

Mr. Dave Smith: Obviously, the member didn’t actually listen to everything I said, because I did talk about all the things that we were doing to support everyone in Ontario.

The reduction in cost for electricity of $6.5 billion affects every single person, whether they are on Ontario Works, ODSP, or whether they are working someplace, whether they are retired. It makes no difference; it affects every single person in this province in a positive way.

We’ve increased funding to ODSP by 5% and tied it now to inflation so that they’ll never find themselves in a position where they’re falling further behind. This is the first time any government in Ontario has done this—tied it to inflation to make sure that they do not fall behind.

Madam Speaker, this is a fantastic budget, and the opposition needs to stand up and vote in favour of it, because it helps everyone in this province.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Next question.

Mr. Robert Bailey: Ontario has reached a population of somewhere around 15.4 million people.

I’d like the member for Essex, for example, to explain how those capital investments are going to make improvements both to Ontario as a whole and to Essex in particular.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: I thank the member from Sarnia–Lambton for his question.

It’s no secret that the delivery of health care has been a struggle in our community. We actually compete with the city of Detroit for our nursing staff. In fact, my next door neighbour, Sandra, a phenomenal nurse, was cut back by a previous government in her career, so she was scooped up by an HMO in Michigan.

We need to provide modern facilities. This government has brought that hope and optimism back by finally approving the Windsor-Essex regional acute-care hospital, giving practitioners the dignity of a sound place to work, with proper equipment that’s not left over from 40 years ago. This is a tremendous investment. This is the only government to get behind it. I’m so happy that it made this investment prior to my arrival and that we’re going to get the job done in delivering this much-needed facility for the people of Windsor and Essex county.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Next question?

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the member for Peterborough–Kawartha.

When I looked at the budget, one of the things I noticed is that when you look at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s budget, you see a $124-million cut. That’s on top of the $5-billion loss in infrastructure spending that is occurring across Ontario because of this government’s Bill 23.

What is this government’s plan to properly fund affordable housing projects so that they can actually get built?

Everything I’m seeing in this budget is looking like a cut.

Mr. Dave Smith: Wow. That is really all I have to say on that.

Thank you so much for voting against bills that would reduce the cost of building things in Ontario.

We are cutting the development charges for not-for-profit housing. Is that not what your question was about? Then you asked, how are we doing that? We’re cutting the development charge in the GTA. In some portions of the GTA, it’s $167,000 for a development charge. Not-for-profits will not have to pay that. That is a significant reduction in the cost per unit—$167,000. What is that in terms of mortgage payments right now, with the interest rates that we have? That is hundreds of dollars per month—close to $500 per month—that is not going to have to be paid for not-for-profit housing builds. That helps.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Next question?

Ms. Donna Skelly: My question is for the member from Peterborough–Kawartha.

You spoke about the need to attract more jobs.

I recall, as a reporter, reporting on the number of jobs that fled Ontario under the previous Liberal government due to what I believe were some of the worst pieces of legislation ever introduced in the province of Ontario, including the Green Energy Act. For so many years, business owners—women and men who played by the rules, worked hard and simply wanted to take care of their families, and who created jobs for others to take care of families—felt like they were under attack. Every possible barrier that could be brought forward to stifle them from growing their business was introduced.

But our government has turned the corner, and we have done so much to create more jobs.

Could the member please expand on the initiatives in this budget that attract more jobs and encourage more people to get into the manufacturing sector in Ontario?

Mr. David Smith: This gives me a great opportunity to talk about some of the things that are in the budget that are going to help not just large businesses but small businesses.

I’ll start on the small business side. We have changed the employer health tax exemption now. It’s going from $490,000 to $1 million. How many of your small mom-and-pop shops have $1 million worth of payroll? Very few. This is putting money right back into their pockets so that they can reinvest that in people.

We have a small business tax cut, down to 3.2%. That is something that will help every single small business in this province.

But probably the greatest thing in this is how we are attracting industries to come back to Ontario. The Liberals pushed out 350,000 manufacturing jobs. If you want to know if our plan is actually working, all you have to do is look at St. Thomas and Elgin, with 2,000 new jobs coming in from VW, moving to Ontario—something that would never have happened under the previous Liberal government.

This is real results for the people of this province. This is real leadership by Premier Ford.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Next question?

Mr. Jeff Burch: I just want to pick up on a question that was asked by my colleague from University–Rosedale.

First of all, not-for-profits in Toronto already don’t pay development charges, so we really wish that the government members would stop repeating that talking point over and over again, because it’s not true.

Secondly, aside from the argument about whether or not development charges should be charged—

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): I apologize. I’ll ask the member to withdraw.

Mr. Jeff Burch: Withdraw.

Setting aside the question about whether or not development charges are charged, this government promised that they would make municipalities whole for that money, and they haven’t done that in this budget.

So why did the government break its promise to municipalities?

Mr. Dave Smith: It’s lovely when you hear the opposition stand up and say something that you are doing is really, really good—“But let’s not talk about that. Let’s put that one aside right now, because we don’t want to talk about that. That doesn’t fit our narrative.”

There is more to the province of Ontario than the city of Toronto, and if you come to any riding outside of the 25 that are in Toronto, they would say that they should also get the same level of respect and that they should get the same benefits as what the Toronto members of the NDP are trying to advocate for Toronto.

In my riding, I know that people are happy about the idea of housing being built; I know that people are happy about the idea of jobs being brought back to the province.

I could go across any single riding of the PC government members, and they would all say the same thing: Ontario is on the right track, because we’re attracting businesses.

VW would not be here if it was not for the work of this government, the leadership of Premier Ford and the leadership of Vic Fedeli—sorry, the member from Nipissing, the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade—

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Thank you. We ran out of time for the response.

We don’t have time for another question, so we’ll have to move to further debate.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker. It’s always an honour to be able to get up in this place, to speak on behalf of the people of Kiiwetinoong. You have to understand that the Kiiwetinoong riding is 294,000 square kilometres, and we are one of the richest ridings in Ontario—rich in resources such as water, such as the land, and also the lakes that we have, the animals and the fish that live in those waters.

Remarks in Anishininiimowin.

It’s an honour to be able to speak on this bill, Bill 85, Building a Strong Ontario Act. I speak on behalf of the people of Kiiwetinoong.

Yesterday, just down the road, I attended a gathering hosted by the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools. This was their third National Gathering on Unmarked Burials.

There may be a lot of you who do not know: The office of the special interlocutor works closely and collaboratively with Indigenous leaders, communities, nations, survivors, families and experts to identify needed measures to ensure the respectful and culturally appropriate treatment and protection of unmarked graves, but also the burial sites of children at former Indian residential schools. In Ontario, we are still looking for children who never came home from those—I don’t know if I should call them schools. They were not schools.

I talk about that because it’s very important work that is being done at these gatherings, and it’s an honour to be there. I won’t be taking

part in today’s sessions, question period, because I’m going to be with all the survivors who are here, just down the road, from across the country.

We honour the survivors, the Indigenous families and the communities across Turtle Island who are leading the work of recovering the unmarked burials and the missing children.

We also honour and acknowledge those who lead the search and recovery efforts, often reliving their trauma as they work to bring honour and dignity to the spirits, to the bodies, to honour the remains of our children who never came home.

I know we speak about prosperity and a vision forward, but there are things that are happening—like the fact that there are still unmarked graves, unmarked burials of children, on former Indian residential school sites and other associated sites across Canada due to the inaction and the decisions of Canadian governments, provincial governments, and especially the churches who administered these institutions.

We also cannot forget that our children were often sent to other places, like the federal Indian hospitals, sanatoriums, provincial hospitals and provincial reformatories.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified that further work is needed to be done to locate all the unmarked burials, including at associated sites, to locate the missing children.

Today, the survivors, the families of these survivors, Indigenous families and communities carry the burden of leading the search and recovery efforts. It is a burden that they should not have to carry. But that’s the reality. That’s a dark history.

That’s the real history that all Canadians, all Ontarians never knew, which brings me to the budget—$25.1 million in additional funds to identify remains at former residential school sites over 2023-24. Without this being itemized, it just appears to be an additional $5 million over $20 million over three years committed to date. When I see those numbers—how do you put a price on finding our children? How do you put a price on the children who never came home? This is what Ontario has decided—that it’s worth this much.

In relation to Indigenous people, this budget mainly talks about two things: (1) the searches for Indian residential schools and (2) the Ring of Fire.

It’s certainly interesting how important mining is to this province, to this government.

Before we even had treaties in Ontario, there were people coming into the territories of Indigenous people and mining without agreements. It was in the 1840s—a very important piece of history that took place in Mica Bay at Pointe aux Mines, north of Sault Ste. Marie. This was just before the creation of the Robinson Treaties.

A few years after the discovery of minerals on the shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior in 1841, the Canada West company generated $60,000 from mining leases and patents, and stood to earn $400,000 once the patents were paid in full. We have to understand that this was a lot of money at the time. Government officials of the day continued to ignore the concerns of local Indigenous leaders, whose homes and sources of food were now threatened by this activity. Also, the chiefs of the area were aware of the value of the minerals and questioned the legality of surveying unceded territory.

On November 1, 1849, a group of several hundred Anishinaabe and Métis warriors, led by Chiefs Oshawano, Shingwaukonse and Nebenaigoching, travelled to Mica Bay by boat. They took a small cannon from the lawn of the crown lands agent Joseph Wilson, and other weapons supplied by local merchants who supported their cause. At that time, they secured a lawyer, Allan Macdonell, who joined them with an artist. When they arrived at the mines, the chiefs met with management and gave them an ultimatum of shared profits or a complete shutdown of the operation.

The company closed the mines, and his workers began to disperse with their equipment in the following days. Rumours began to spread that there had been an “Indian massacre” with hundreds of casualties. Other mine owners became uneasy after hearing the sensationalized reports, though there had been no deaths at Mica Bay, and pressured Canada West to act. The lawyer and the artist were arrested, alongside two Métis and two Anishinaabe chiefs. The group was sent to Toronto for trial, where they were eventually released and returned to help with the negotiations for the Robinson treaty.

Premiers like to make promises. The current one likes to talk about bulldozers a lot.

George Ross was the fifth Premier of Ontario, from 1899 to 1905, and he talked a lot about railroads. He needed a way to build the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway, renamed Ontario Northland in 1946. The way he did it was through treaty. He sent survey parties to examine possible routes for a new railroad going as far as James Bay. The initial survey area was covered by the 1850 Robinson-Huron Treaty between the crown and the Anishinaabe people. By 1905, both Queen’s Park and Ottawa were pushing for Treaty 9 to be signed to ensure clear title for all the land up to Hudson Bay. The land would be needed for mining, timber and the railroad.

George Ross’s 1902 budget stated that resource development was the central government priority. Ross explained later to the House that a modern government “has to be the pioneer ... of manufacturing and commerce.” Sounds familiar, right?

Shiri Pasternak, a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, recently wrote an

article about critical minerals and settler colonialism. She said, “The transformation of industries like automotive manufacturing with the rise of electric vehicles, the energy sector with solar and wind infrastructure, and medical innovations in cancer treatment all rely on extracting ‘critical minerals’ in mostly traditional ways.”

But we have to ask ourselves: How is this new extraction different from the old practices of colonization? When we listen to the government talk about critical minerals, it gets framed as clean energy and responsibly sourced materials. The government says that they need critical minerals for national security and to be more important globally. But you have to think more about the land that these minerals come from. Those minerals lie under the treaty lands of the people who have cared for the lands and the waters since the Creator put us there.

What is the trade-off needed for a green economy? Whose lives will these companies be changing forever to make their shareholders richer? How much does it cost to change the ways of life for the people in Treaty 9 forever? And how is it fair to go in and push these projects through in First Nations that don’t even have access to clean drinking water, in these reserves?

I don’t see a $1-billion commitment to that in the budget—just a road that will mostly make money for a company that can’t possibly understand the importance of the lands and the waters, that can’t possibly understand the ways of life of the people in Treaty 9. How can I believe that, when every day I look at the mace over here? There’s a diamond in there that came from Victor mine, that came from Attawapiskat. During its operation, the Victor mine yielded about 1.1 million carats of diamonds. It’s hard to imagine how much that is worth to an average person.

I was in Attawapiskat before, and they have to haul their water in jugs. Their community reserve line is so maxed up, they can’t build any more homes. It is important that we acknowledge that.

The government talks about prosperity. I was in the community about two months ago. This community is a signatory to one of the mines nearby. There is literally needless death and unnecessary suffering. I see children who are four years old suffering with skin conditions. The government talks about mines and prosperity to me, to First Nations. We’ve had that mine for 30-plus years, and there is no prosperity in there. I think it’s important to be able to try to acknowledge that.

I come from a different Ontario. I come from a different Canada.

Thank you for listening. Meegwetch.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): We’re going to move to questions.

Mr. Todd J. McCarthy: I thank the member for his heartfelt comments on behalf of his riding and community. It’s very important that we listen and learn.

I want to ask, specific to the bill that we are debating, Bill 85, budget 2023: Will he and his colleagues in His Majesty’s official opposition support the increase in the investment in homelessness prevention and the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program, which is proposed to be over $200 million annually, to give more people a safe place to call home?

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch. Reserves were created to get us off the lands where the resources are. Where I grew up, it became a reserve in 1976, and they moved there in 1966. We never had welfare. We were never homeless. In the context of homelessness, I think you can talk about the four walls, but the land is our home. We’re not homeless. The land is our home, and people are going back to the lands. That’s where our home is. Meegwetch.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Next question?

Mr. Joel Harden: It’s always an honour to rise in this House after remarks from our friend from Kiiwetinoong.

In 2019, we saw the second hunger strike of the former Attiwapiskat chief, Theresa Spence. I had the honour of meeting her briefly during the Idle No More movement, when the chief came to our community and told us about the living conditions of her community versus the diamond mine that was being created, which had fresh water, which had food.

When you talk about the juxtaposition of the four-year-old children who have rashes on their skin, when you’re talking to the people in Neskantaga and other places, is this what you’re hearing from community members—that they fear this constant pattern of discrimination is going to be repeated? What’s talked about is prosperity, as you said, but what gets delivered to people in the communities is just a repeat of this continuing. I was wondering if you could elaborate for our benefit.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: First of all, thank you for the question.

As the first peoples of these lands, as a First Nations person from these lands, I know that’s one of the first things that happened—governments took our land, and they took our children.

When you ask about Neskantaga First Nation, a community of 300 people—they have had a boil-water advisory for over 28 years, starting on February 1, 1995. There is no way this would be allowed in any other place in Ontario, anyplace in Canada. But it happens. That’s how colonialism works. That’s how oppression works. That’s how racism works. That’s how discrimination works. We live it on a daily basis. It has become a way of life, and it has detrimental impacts on the wellness and the health of children who live in these communities. Meegwetch.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Next question?

Mr. Rick Byers: I do thank the member opposite for his very heartfelt remarks this morning. We heard them all.

I want to raise two things—first of all, a comment about the incremental support in this budget for the RAISE program, racialized and Indigenous supports for entrepreneurs, at $15 million. In particular, I want to comment and confirm the additional $25.1 million in the budget to support identification, investigation, protection and commemoration of residential school burial sites. I respectfully ask whether that additional investment is sufficient to allow the member to support the budget as tabled.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch to the member for the question.

We are at a time when we are again talking about trying to find our children. I know that incremental funding and incremental change further perpetuate the oppression, the colonialism, the crisis in our communities. I think it would be better if you started looking at the 94 calls to action and started investing resources behind those calls to action. I have lived it. I have seen the incremental funding. I have seen the incremental help that governments do, but it perpetuates the crisis in our communities. We’ve got to do it, full stop, where we will provide the full resources.

Yes, I welcome that $25.1 million, but what’s the number on finding our children on former Indian residential school sites?

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Question?

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Thank you very much to the member for Kiiwetinoong for those comments. I learn so much from your remarks in this House, and I really appreciate the reminder of how badly we are failing on two fronts: first, how long we have failed to meet our treaty obligations; and, second, having acknowledged that we did harm and committed to reconciliation, how we are failing to make good on that commitment because we are allowing this persistence of two Ontarios, two standards of living, and completely different expectations and treatment for Indigenous peoples in this province.

What measures would the member like to have seen in this budget that would have actually made a meaningful step toward meeting our treaty obligations and commitment to reconciliation?

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: I think reconciliation can be more than hanging woodland art in our facilities and our offices. That is not reconciliation.

We have to understand that in the numbered treaties from 1 to 11, Treaty 9, where I come from, is the only treaty with the province’s signature on it. That’s Ontario. We are your treaty partners, not your stakeholders. Meegwetch.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): We now have to move to members’ statements. That’s all the time we have for the debate.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

Members’ Statements

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Ms. Laura Smith: On April 2, we celebrate Education and Sharing Day to honour the work and teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Established in 1978, it pays tribute to his endless commitment for better education for the children of North America.

The seventh leader in the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty, Rabbi Schneerson was born in Ukraine in 1902 and moved to New York to escape the Holocaust.

If the Holocaust showed the world the evil of which human beings are capable, the Rebbe reminds us of what good people we can be.

He was devoted to teaching the infinite value of every human life and the practice of loving your neighbour. The Rebbe inspired millions, not only with his wise words, but with his actions.

He created a global network of Chabad emissaries in over 100 countries, offering social service programs and humanitarian aid all around the world.

A tireless advocate for youth, he promoted education as a cornerstone of humanity, and in an era when a woman’s education was not valued the same as a man’s, the Rebbe staunchly created more educational opportunities for girls. He was even known to write, “There must be a girl!” on educational materials that only depicted boys.

April 2 will mark the Rebbe’s 121st birthday. In Hebrew, we say, “Ad meah v’esrim,” which means “until 120.”

The Rebbe may not have reached 120, but his legacy certainly lives on.

Melinda Moote

Ms. Sandy Shaw: Tragically, we have lost an amazing young woman in our community, Melinda Moote. Friends and family described her as “the best humanity has to offer.”

Melinda suffered from a rare disorder which was in remission, but symptoms recurred and she went to emergency in medical distress. There were only three triage nurses working, with 34 people waiting in front of her. Despite her life-threatening condition, she waited for hours. Finally, a nurse found her vomiting blood in a garbage can and barely conscious. Everything that could go wrong did—the long wait; important blood tests and plasma treatments missed. The family left wondering if this could have saved her life.

Melinda used her last days to write about our health care crisis from her hospital bed. True to her kind nature, she began by thanking the overwhelmed nurses and strangers who came to her aid. But she warned that our health care system is a broken system. Melinda said, “I’m hoping to add my voice so people know how bad it is. People aren’t dying from mysterious illnesses, it’s from lack of accessible preventable care.” She herself died a few days later.

This government’s cuts are literally letting people die needlessly—good people, our loved ones.

So for anyone hearing our pleas or the pleas of Melinda’s family, if your loved one has struggled with the health care system, join us in demanding urgent action. It’s going to take all of us to speak up, just like Melinda did in her dying days.

Health care post-secondary education

Mr. Vijay Thanigasalam: Working closely with the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus administration, we are establishing the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, the first-ever medical school in Scarborough.

Remarkably, the last time a medical school was built in Toronto was in 1843, almost two centuries ago.

The Scarborough medical school represents more than a symbol of progress; it’s a beacon of hope for our long-neglected community. By training health care professionals who understand the unique needs of Scarborough, we can deliver top-quality, comprehensive care.

Our government’s recent budget plan allocated an additional $100 million to expand and accelerate medical education across Ontario. Moreover, they have invested $33 million to create 100 postgraduate seats and 154 undergraduate seats in the next three years.

This initiative is a core component of our government’s plan to solidify and strengthen health care in Scarborough for generations to come.

Transgender Day of Visibility

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: March 31 marks the International Transgender Day of Visibility. This is a day to celebrate the achievements of transgender people and raise awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide. This day encourages us to recognize that trans and non-binary individuals continue to resist oppression by simply being who we are.

Challenges, however, do exist. This is exactly why we are seeing a rampant rise of bigotry and violence against trans, non-binary and queer communities. Driven by irrational fear and destructive political gamesmanship, there are 431 pieces of legislation pending across America that target transgender people—those numbers are hard to get out, Speaker.

A week ago, the Ugandan Parliament passed anti-homosexual legislation that imprisons people for just identifying as 2SLGBTQ+. Some offences carry the death penalty. Such a hateful and violent law must be condemned by every parliamentarian in this House.

Here in Ontario, we have the opportunity to be a world leader on trans human rights, starting with improving access to health care this year, with my private member’s bill, the Gender Affirming Health Care Advisory Committee Act.

And don’t forget, this government could show its commitment to trans health care today by committing to restart the Connect-Clinic with an alternative funding plan so that everyone in Ontario, no matter how remote-access they are, has access to gender-affirming care.

To all my trans and non-binary community members in Ontario: The Ontario NDP sees you, supports you and values you today and every other day.

Lambton county medical officer of health

Mr. Robert Bailey: It’s an honour to rise today to share with the Ontario Legislature important news from Sarnia–Lambton. I’m extremely pleased to inform the members of this Legislature that Ontario’s Minister of Health recently appointed Dr. Karalyn Dueck as the new, permanent medical officer of health for the county of Lambton. Dr. Dueck previously served as the acting associate medical officer of health for the Middlesex-London health unit. She has also worked in public health roles in Peel and York region, and as a family physician in both Guelph and Bramalea.

Dr. Dueck’s appointment is key to helping the hard-working team at Lambton Public Health advance important public health programs and services that support the positive health and well-being of our community.

I’m extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Dueck into her new role. I look forward to working together with Dr. Dueck and the Lambton Public Health team in the coming weeks and months.

Congratulations, Dr. Dueck, and best wishes for a great future in your new role.

Victor Lei

Mr. John Vanthof: Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to make the House aware of a very sad day in Timiskaming–Cochrane. Today at the Floyd Hembruff Civic Centre, people are about to pay their respects for the passing of Victor Lei. Victor was born in Timmins on August 24, 1994. He studied pharmacy at the University of Waterloo, gaining his doctor of pharmacy in 2018. He worked at the Guardian Pharmacy in Iroquois Falls. In northern Ontario, where we’re so short of primary health care, pharmacists are lifelines, and he was a true lifeline.

On Wednesday, March 22, while going home from work, at 28 years old, Victor lost his life on the Trans-Canada Highway. The accident is still under investigation. But we need to remember that the Trans-Canada Highway—for Victor, for us—is our main street.

I’d like to take the opportunity on behalf of everyone here in the House to pay our respects to Victor’s family, friends, his loved ones.

Thank you very much for your attention.

Krista DuChene

Mr. Will Bouma: I never tire of saying that Brantford–Brant is home to world-class athletes.

Today in the House, I welcome champion marathoner Krista DuChene and her family.

Krista’s esteemed athletic career started with high school track and later being named the MVP for Ontario University Athletics top scorer for the University of Guelph hockey team.

In 2005, Krista was the first Canadian woman to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon.

Krista won the Mississauga Marathon on Mother’s Day in 2009.

In April 2015, Krista raced in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to become the first Canadian in 20 years to qualify for the Olympics in the women’s marathon. Her time of two hours, 29 minutes, 38 seconds was her second-fastest marathon.

Krista currently holds the record for the fastest 50-kilometre race in Canada for women, with a time of three hours, 22 minutes, 22 seconds.

Krista ran all six marathon majors: London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Tokyo. Tokyo was the last on the list for DuChene, and she finished in a stellar two hours, 38 minutes and 53 seconds—the only Canadian to break a record in that race.

Krista’s favourite quote is, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.”

Krista, you make Brantford–Brant, Ontario and Canada proud.

Health care workers / Travailleurs de la santé

Mr. John Fraser: The greatest challenge we have in our hospitals right now—indeed, in our health care system—is not having enough people to care for those people who need care. There is a health care human resources crisis in Ontario, and what it means is, we’re not fully using our operating room capacity, we still have emergency room closures, and the surgical backlog from the pandemic persists, all because our hospitals are desperate for nurses, doctors and other front-liners.

Bill 60, as it stands, risks setting up a parallel for-profit system that is only going to make it harder for our hospitals to retain and recruit the people they need to clear that surgical backlog. It will pit patients’ interests against the interests of shareholders. If we’re going to effectively cure the backlog and reduce wait times, Bill 60 must be amended.

Il existe une crise des ressources humaines dans le secteur de la santé en Ontario. Les temps d’attente restent élevés et l’arriéré chirurgical dû à la pandémie persiste parce que nos hôpitaux ont désespérément besoin d’infirmières, de médecins et d’autres travailleurs de première ligne.

Le projet de loi 60, dans sa forme actuelle, risque de mettre en place un système parallèle privé. Cela ne fera que compliquer la tâche de nos hôpitaux, qui auront du mal à recruter les personnes dont ils ont besoin pour résorber l’arriéré—

Le Président (L’hon. Ted Arnott): Merci beaucoup.

Arthur Boon

Mr. Matthew Rae: I rise today to recognize a great man who passed away on March 12, in his 99th year.

Arthur Boon was a skilled hockey and baseball player. He was invited to the Detroit Red Wings camp, and for many years he played senior A hockey in New Hamburg. He continued to play hockey every Sunday night until the age of 84. He was also a member of the Stratford Nationals in the Intercounty Baseball League, until a broken ankle ended his career. However, that did not stop him from playing slo-pitch until he was 71. He also coached minor baseball and was there to watch his sons, Art Jr. and Rick, play their games, and eventually his grandchildren.

Speaker, in addition to these sports accomplishments, and being a loving husband and father, he was also a World War II veteran. At the age of 15, Art signed up and eventually joined the 19th Canadian Army Field Regiment. His first action in the war was the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. He would fight in many battles up the coast of France, through Belgium, Holland and eventually Germany.

After returning home, Art proudly served with the Perth Regiment, eventually retiring as chief warrant officer.

Art was given the Order of Military Merit, the Order of St. John and the French Legion of Honour.

For over 75 years, Art organized and played a major role in the Remembrance Day service in Stratford.

We owe a great debt to Art, his family, and his fellow veterans. We will remember them.

Jeff Gustafson

Mr. Kevin Holland: Today I’m going to shine a light on a tremendous citizen from Minister Rickford’s riding, in Kenora.

This past weekend, northwestern Ontario’s very own Jeff Gustafson brought home an international fishing championship after competing in the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee. The first Canadian and second non-American to ever win the top prize, Jeff honed his craft on Lake of the Woods, winning tournament after tournament from the young age of 10. Gustafson was able to secure his win with 13 ounces over second place, catching two fish that weighed six pounds combined during Sunday’s final round. He described the event as one of the hardest days of his life. Nevertheless, Jeff showed tremendous grit and determination in his triumphant victory down south.

When he’s not winning fishing championships, Jeff spends his days as a full-time outdoors guide, and he has written for countless outdoor publications and is even the feature of his own television show.

I’d like to congratulate Jeff Gustafson on behalf of myself and Minister Rickford.

You’re an inspiration to many, and we all wish you luck in your next Elite Series event, coming up this April.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today Mr. Luca Zelioli, consul general of Italy in Toronto. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guest to the assembly today.

Mr. Will Bouma: I’d like to welcome to the House Canadian Olympian and champion marathoner Krista DuChene and her family: Donald, Aimee, Aidan, Genvieve, Martin and Leah.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: I’d like to welcome representatives from the Ontario Road Builders’ Association and the Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council who are in the chamber today, and especially the board chair, Mario Villeneuve, who’s from my riding.

Bienvenue, Mario. Thank you for the important work you do throughout the province. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. John Fraser: I’d like to welcome representatives from the Ontario Road Builders’ Association and the Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council from across this province to Queen’s Park today. We’re looking forward to meeting with them.

With us we have Brianna Puigmarti, Ivan Levac from R.W. Tomlinson, Lisa Laronde from Powell Contracting Ltd., Mac Carmichael from Green Infrastructure Partners Inc. and, perhaps, one of my most favourite constituents, Michael McSweeney.

Ms. Laura Smith: I would like to welcome to the House Francis Lindayen, CEO for ITS Electronics, a leading global supplier of advanced microwave amplifiers, frequency converters and intelligent wireless sub systems for commercial, government and defence customers.

Welcome, Francis Lindayen.

MPP Lise Vaugeois: I would like to welcome Vince Accardi, president of the Ontario Motor Coach Association and other members of the coach association: Brian Denny from Denny’s Bus Lines and Shawn Geary from McCoy Bus Service.

Welcome to the House. It was a pleasure to meet with you.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I, too, would like to welcome representatives from the Ontario Road Builders’ Association and the Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council; specifically, Mark Mallett, Doubra Ambaiowei, Steve Manolis, Matt Powell and Alfredo Maggio, who I’ll be meeting with later today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. David Piccini: At the risk of being repetitive here, on behalf of the government, I would like to welcome the Ontario Road Builders’ Association and the Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council. I value their work with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

And a special shout-out to my good friend Michael McSweeney—thank you for being here.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: It’s my pleasure to welcome Fanshawe College today. They’re going to be hosting us in room 228, so please make your way there after question period.

Mr. Adil Shamji: I’m delighted to welcome a group of political science students from the University of Toronto today. They are our future, and I’m delighted that they’re here to witness democracy in action.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: Speaker, I wish a warm welcome to David Colle of Green Infrastructure Partners, Peter Hamstra of Dufferin Construction, Andrew Hurd of the Ontario Road Builders’ Association, Rick Tamburro of Miller Group, and Steve Smith of Roto-Mill. Thank you so much for being here with us today.

Mr. John Vanthof: I would like to welcome the Taykwa Tagamou First Nation to the House today; specifically, Chief Bruce Archibald and Deputy Chief Derek Archibald. I invite you all to their reception happening this evening.

I’d also like to welcome Doubra Ambaiowei, Mark Mallett, Steve Manolis, Matt Powell and Alfredo Maggio from the Ontario Road Builders’ Association. I’m looking forward to meeting them this afternoon.

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: Mr. Speaker, I’m delighted to introduce some special people, entrepreneurs and doctors from the riding of York Centre: Dr. Lew Pliamm, Mr. Alaa Tamous, and Dr. Robert Cooper and his wife, Mrs. Simone Cooper.

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: I’d like to extend a warm welcome to page Paul Hu, who I think is page captain today, as well as his mother, Jennifer Hu, and his grandmother Wendy Nichols, as well as Glen Hung from my riding. Glen is a first-year political science student at U of T. He was president of his model UN club at York Mills Collegiate, and he also had an honourable mention from the UN club from Princeton University. Welcome.

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: I would also like to welcome representatives from the Ontario Road Builders’ Association and the Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council who are in the chamber today and attending meetings throughout the day. I’ll be meeting with them this afternoon.

Thank you for the important work you do throughout our province to keep building Ontario. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): If there are no objections, I’ll continue with introduction of visitors.

Hon. Todd Smith: I know the member just mentioned the TTN is going to be here for their reception tonight, but he left out the best part, Mr. Speaker. While everybody is going to the ORBA reception—TTN has brought in some star power tonight for their reception: Doug Gilmour, Shayne Corson and Ric Nattress. A bunch of Toronto Maple Leafs all-stars are going to be there. So come on down and get your picture taken.

Mr. Nolan Quinn: I’d like to welcome Ben de Haan, the father of page Ryan de Haan, who’s here from my riding of Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry.

M me France Gélinas: I would like to welcome Evan Dickson, Kourtney Adamson, Steve McEachen, James McVeety and Jamie Di Laudo, who are here with the Ontario Road Builders’ Association. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Stan Cho: Joining us today from the Ontario Motor Coach Association we have Vince Accardi, Shawn Gerry, Brian Denny, John Temple, Doug Badder and Ray Cherry. Welcome to the Legislature.

Question Period

Optometry services / Health care

Ms. Marit Stiles: My question is to the Minister of Health.

Yesterday, the Minister of Health defended her government’s recent decision to make seniors wait longer between eye exams. She claimed that cancelling eye exams for seniors is “actually going to increase care” for people with ocular diseases. She claimed that their planned reductions in care will give “better access” to eye exams.

Through you, Speaker: Could the minister explain how making seniors wait longer leads to better care?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Yesterday I was happy to applaud the efforts of the Ontario Association of Optometrists and the Ministry of Health in finally getting an agreement after 12 years. In the province of Ontario, we have not had an agreement with the Ontario Association of Optometrists since 2011.

It is very historic that we have been able to settle on something that is going to improve services for our seniors, for individuals on OW and ODSP, and for individuals who have glaucoma—making sure that individuals who actually have eye issues are getting in front of their optometrists and getting the services they need.

So, yes, I am incredibly proud of the agreement that we have settled on.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, it’s not just seniors that they’re serving up. Yesterday, we learned that adults aged 20 to 64 with lazy eye will lose OHIP coverage for eye exams and will now be forced to pay out of pocket. Adults 20 to 64 with strabismus will lose their coverage and must now pay out of pocket, unless it just developed suddenly.

And we found out that people with cataracts are losing their eye exam coverage unless they’re referred for surgery or have “clinically significant decreased vision.”

Back to the Minister of Health again: How is reducing access to preventive eye care going to help anyone?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: If the member opposite actually understood the clinical reasoning behind the changes that we made, she would understand, as an example, that lazy eye in adults is something that is a stable condition that does not change once you’re in adulthood. We have listened to the experts, listened to the clinicians, listened to people who actually understand how these improvements are going to make a difference to the people who have emerging eye issues. And for those individuals who are stable and have the opportunity to access through their primary care, or, yes, their optometrist—that will continue.

As I said, I am incredibly proud of the work that the Ontario Association of Optometrists did with the Ministry of Health.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, yesterday the minister bristled when we asked questions about her decision to cancel the Physician and Hospital Services for Uninsured Persons program. She says, “Listen to the experts,” but doctors across the province continue to express real concern about this cancellation. One said it was “a horrid affront to the values inherent in Canada’s universal health system.”

This program cost an average of just $5 million a year. I’ve got to tell you, Minister, that’s the salary of just four OPG executives right there, under this government. But the point is that this program helped more than 400,000 uninsured people since it was implemented, not just four. Quick math—that’s $37.50 a person, and it helped save lives.

So my question to the minister is, will she reverse this callous decision and help save lives?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Again, I must return to where we were pre-pandemic. This agreement was made to protect individuals who could not return to their home communities to access health care services. Ontario absolutely did the right thing, put some physician codes in to ensure that those individuals who, because of travel restrictions, could not return home—now we have gone to pre-pandemic levels; exactly identical to a program that has existed for many, many years in the province of Ontario, ensuring that individuals who are not able to, for any number of reasons, have access to an OHIP card, have it through 75 community health care centres, of course.

There is not an individual in the province of Ontario who would ever be turned away at an emergency department in our hospitals.

Those programs—

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

The next question. The Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Thank you, Speaker. I hope the next minister does better.

Social services

Ms. Marit Stiles: The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is a very important file that affects the lives of some of the most vulnerable Ontarians. With a new minister in that role, it’s a chance for a fresh start.

We all know that this government refuses to make their mandate letters public. They’ve even gone so far as to waste public money by going to the Supreme Court to keep them secret.

But I want to ask the new minister: After years of mismanagement, what direction have you been given for this critical role?

Hon. Michael Parsa: I thank the honourable leader of the official opposition for the question.

Mr. Speaker, I am truly humbled and honoured to be entrusted with this position by the Premier, and I thank him for the opportunity.

I also want to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Merrilee Fullerton for all the great work and her leadership on the file.

As an individual who immigrated here to Canada for a better opportunity for my family and friends, I will make this very clear to the House and to my honourable colleagues, to every single person here: We live in the best province in the greatest country in the world—one that can only remain that way if we leave no one behind. I will promise to every single member here and everyone in this province that I will work night and day to make sure every individual, every child, every youth in this province is cared for, is looked after. I’ll give you my promise.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, I’ve got to tell you, that’s a real shame, because I just heard that it’s going to be more of the same.

The latest report from the Financial Accountability Office found that this government had budgeted but failed to spend nearly $500 million on social services by the third quarter of the last fiscal. That’s half a billion dollars that this government planned to invest in Ontarians and then just didn’t. That’s $500 million withheld from the critical services that people rely on, at a time when Ontarians, when people in this province, are really struggling.

My question to the minister, again, is, are you going to stand up to this Premier and fight for the people who need your help?

Hon. Michael Parsa: Again, I thank the honourable colleague for the question.

It’s, in fact, under the leadership of this Premier that we have brought in supports for the people of this province like never before, and we’re not going to stop there.

Again, I’ll reassure this House and every single member of this House that I will give everything I’ve got every single day, and I will come back the next day and try even harder for the people this province—that means the record investments that we have made.

If you look at the programs under the previous government, we’ve doubled funding under the autism program thanks to—before, there were only 8,500 children and youth receiving support, but now there are more than 40,000 children and youth receiving support.

One of the things that we are doing as a government, and that I will continue to do, is making sure that the well-being of every single individual is a top priority for our government. That’s why I thank the Minister of Health for the great work they’re doing, I thank the member from Brampton Centre for her leadership when it comes to—

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Supports? Look around you. Look at what’s happening in our communities. Look at the lineups at the food banks down the road, in every community across this province.

I really wonder about these figures that I’m hearing from the members opposite. This government has no problem finding $650 million hidden between seat cushions so they can pave over a public park and then hand it over to some Austrian corporate conglomerate to build a private spa. But they can’t find a measly 5% increase—that’s all they can find, is 5% for people on ODSP or OW, well below the cost of inflation, not nearly enough to help people put food on the table.

My question is to the minister. Will you commit to ending this legislated poverty by immediately doubling ODSP and OW?

Hon. Michael Parsa: I will just remind my honourable colleague and all members across that it was this government that increased ODSP by 5%. For decades, it hadn’t been done. Again, I remind my honourable colleague that when the previous government was in power, they held the balance of power for years. They could have made that a priority; they didn’t.

This was the largest increase to ODSP support in decades. It doesn’t end there. It’s also tied to inflation. Beginning this July, it will continue to increase. But it will go beyond that. Those who can, are willing—we have the jobs in this province for those who are able to. Thanks to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, there are 300,000-plus jobs that are going unfilled.

This is going to be my question to the leader of the official opposition and all my honourable colleagues across—I want them to come with us, to work with me to make sure that we help people in this province so that we don’t leave anyone behind—

Interjections.

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

Members will take their seats.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Restart the clock.

The next question.

Autism treatment

Miss Monique Taylor: My question is to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Speaker, the budget tabled on Thursday is over 200 pages, and it did not even mention the Ontario Autism Program. I have stood in this House time after time, sounding the alarms for the OAP, because it is not working for families—and we hear in all of our offices that it is not working for children. This government continues to use the same talking points and does nothing to address it.

Through you, Speaker, to the new minister: How are you going to set a new tone for your ministry and support families looking to access the OAP if there is no extra money in the budget?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll remind the members to make their comments through the Chair.

The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services to reply.

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

Here’s what I’ll tell my colleague across: I’m asking you for your help and support. Come by and actually support us so that we can help the people of this province, instead of continuously objecting and opposing—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Hon. Michael Parsa: Speaker, as I mentioned to you, under this government, the Ontario Autism Program—the funding for this was being doubled, from $300 million to $600 million. Before, there were only 31,500 registered under the OAP program and only 8,500 were receiving support. Now over 40,000 have been registered and are receiving support—almost five times the amount before—and it isn’t just to one service; there are multiple ways of now receiving service under the OAP.

I thank the honourable member and ask her once again to come help me, to work with us to make sure that we support every single youth and child in this province—

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

Miss Monique Taylor: Speaker, what I’m hearing is, the new minister is already feeling that he’s not able to do the job. That is what I’m hearing.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Miss Monique Taylor: We know that there are over 60,000 children on the wait-list.

Interjections.

Miss Monique Taylor: I wish the members would listen. This is a serious—

Interjections.

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

I’d ask the member to take her seat.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask the government side to come to order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Brampton North will come to order. The member for Kitchener–Conestoga will come to order.

Restart the clock.

The member for Hamilton Mountain has the floor.

Miss Monique Taylor: Thank you, Speaker.

The minister talks about doubling the budget. You also doubled the wait-list for children’s services. You talk about 40,000 children actually getting services. They’re not getting core services—what these families need and deserve.

I think the minister needs to really look at his speaking notes again and fight his government to ensure that there are real dollars available to families to actually do something to clear the wait-list.

Will this minister actually work hard within his own government to ensure that there’s money in the budget to support families in need?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Michael Parsa: I’m disappointed that the member across is once again going to just oppose—never has any solutions, will never have anything positive to actually put forward.

Mr. Speaker, here’s the difference. Once again, I’ll go back and I’ll just remind the members that the NDP had the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. The NDP had the balance of power. They failed the people. They weren’t able to deliver. When the previous government didn’t do enough, they continuously supported them. It’s not going to continue that way.

As I said before, we not only doubled the funding; we made sure that more people are receiving support—better support. This is a program that was developed by the community for the community.

When it comes to this side of the House and the majority middle over there, we will continue to fight for every single child, youth—every single person in this province—with or without the help of the opposition.

Public transit

Mr. David Smith: My question is for the Associate Minister of Transportation.

Many individuals and families in Scarborough count on the GO train so they can get to work and attend appointments in the downtown core or travel outside of the city.

The previous Liberal government left the public transit sector in a mess and ignored the urgent needs for necessary improvements.

Union Station is a major transit hub in the city of Toronto. Under the leadership of the Premier and the ministry, we know that work is already under way at Union Station.

Can the associate minister please provide an update about the Union Station enhancement project?

Hon. Stan Cho: Thank you to the member from Scarborough Centre for his question and his non-stop work on behalf of everyone in his constituency.

Speaker, last week the Minister of Transportation and I toured Union Station to see the fantastic improvements that our government is delivering. Some of the terrific enhancements to Union Station include creating two new, wider GO train platforms with canopies; building two new south tracks; and establishing a new south passenger concourse spanning between Bay Street and York Street, so that when the Raptors win the championship or the Leafs win the cup, you can get in and out of the arena a lot easier. In short, these improvements will make travel easier, safer and faster for thousands of riders who rely on the GO Transit network through Union Station each and every single day.

Unlike the NDP, who supported the Liberals when they did nothing to build transit, this government is getting it done for commuters.

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

Mr. David Smith: Thank you to the associate minister for that response.

The Union Station improvements are great news for my constituents and for all who take the GO train in and out of Union Station.

However, it will take more than station upgrades to significantly improve fast and reliable transit service. Our government must continue to invest in building transit infrastructure projects that will benefit our communities now and for future generations.

Can the associate minister please explain how our government is further expanding transit service in our province?

Hon. Stan Cho: That’s another great question.

Whether you’re coming from Barrie or Hamilton, Bowmanville or from my fine friend from York Mills Collegiate—go Titans—you should be able to get from point A to point B seamlessly.

We have a transit gap that was left by the opposition after decades of building zero transit. This government is filling that gap.

The Ontario Line alone will have trains picking up passengers every 90 seconds.

The Scarborough subway extension will make 34,000 jobs accessible within a 10-minute walk from transit.

The Eglinton West extension, which will finally connect us to Pearson International, will reduce travel times from Yonge and Eglinton to Square One by nearly 15 minutes.

What’s more, Union Station improvements will enable two-way, all-day rail service every 15 minutes or better along the GO rail network.

Unlike the opposition, we believe in building the biggest transit expansion in Canadian history. This government is going to get it done.

Assisted housing

MPP Lise Vaugeois: Seven years ago, the Ontario Ombudsman published a disturbing report entitled Nowhere to Turn. His report highlighted systemic issues faced by hundreds of adults with developmental disabilities, including many in hospital because no other placements were available.

Yesterday, the Ombudsman announced a new investigation because so many adults with developmental disabilities are still being forced to live in hospitals because there’s no appropriate housing for them in the community.

The government can ensure adults with developmental disabilities have the quality of life they deserve and can free up much-needed hospital space by investing in assisted living.

Can the minister explain why they didn’t include any new funding in the budget?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Michael Parsa: We’ll continue to work with both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Long-Term Care to transition adults with developmental disabilities who no longer require acute care into appropriate community-based settings, and we’ll work with the Ombudsman’s office during their investigation.

When our government took office, it is important to note that we saw that adults with developmental disabilities and service providers across the province were continuing to face many of the same challenges that they were facing 10 to 15 years ago. We’re changing that.

We’re ensuring people with developmental disabilities can fully participate in their communities, and we’re doing that with our 10-year developmental services reform strategy, Journey to Belonging.

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

MPP Lise Vaugeois: I remind the minister and the government that they have been in power for five years, and nothing has been done to remediate the situation.

One family has been waiting nine years to place their son in a group home. Like the other families caring for their developmentally disabled adult children, they’re terrified of what will happen to their children as they themselves become too old to look after them.

Speaker, things are far worse than they were seven years ago, distressingly, and yet there’s no additional funding for assisted living services in the new budget. The government tabled a bill that doesn’t seem to recognize the urgency of this situation.

When will they start prioritizing people with developmental disabilities by making meaningful investments in assisted living?

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

I wanted to mention that we’re also backing that strategy up with real investments, with funding over $2.9 billion in developmental services, including more than $1.8 billion for residential supports.

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the great work of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and thanks to the Minister of Finance, you saw that, in the budget, $2.2 million will be invested for supportive housing. The minister has said many, many, many times that we are in a housing supply crisis in the province of Ontario—one that affects every single person, one that we’re trying to address, one that the opposition continuously votes against, doesn’t seem to understand. So in order to get housing right for everybody, we need to address the supply crisis that we’re in, and I thank the minister for his leadership on that.

Broadband infrastructure

Mr. Kevin Holland: My question is for the Minister of Infrastructure.

All Ontarians need reliable and affordable high-speed Internet, no matter where they live. I hear from the business community, including the agricultural industry across northern Ontario, that access to high-speed Internet services is essential to successfully managing and operating their businesses. Individuals and families living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities all need Internet access for their day-to-day lives, to improve access to health care, and to keep connected with family and friends.

Can the minister please explain how our government is connecting Ontarians in rural, remote and northern regions of our province to fast, reliable, high-speed Internet?

Hon. Kinga Surma: Thank you to the member for the question.

We are making incredible progress in terms of connecting every single premise in the province of Ontario by the end of 2025. To date, we have committed $2.2 billion to nearly 200 high-speed Internet and cellular projects across the province.

This month, the member from Brampton West, in partnership with the federal government, was able to announce $13 million for high-speed Internet projects in eastern Ontario and $48 million in York region. This will connect 10,000 premises in 40 different communities. And I just want to thank my parliamentary assistant for his help in making sure that no one is left behind.

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

Mr. Kevin Holland: Thanks to the minister for that response.

Ensuring that individuals and families across our province have access to reliable, high-speed Internet is a necessity, not a luxury.

The previous Liberal government failed to invest in priorities that are important to Ontarians living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.

Under the leadership of the Premier and this minister, we know that the plan for accessing high-speed Internet is currently being implemented, but the people in the north are seeking assurances that they can be confident in our government’s ability to deliver on the promise to bring access to unserved and underserved communities.

Can the minister elaborate on how our government is building high-speed Internet infrastructure and connecting the communities in the north?

Hon. Kinga Surma: We as a government recognize how important access to high-speed Internet is for everybody, but particularly for the hard-working people in northern Ontario.

This month, we again joined the federal government in terms of announcing $61 million to bring high-speed Internet to 16,000 homes in 47 different communities, including three First Nation communities. Communities such as Pickle Lake, Iroquois Falls and O’Connor will now be connected.

I want to thank my northern members, but in particular the Minister of Northern Development for his help, working with my ministry to address challenges in the north and to make sure that we got it right.

Health care

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: Last week, Uganda passed a deadly law criminalizing LGBTQ+ people. On Sunday, at an emergency meeting with 150 people, I heard first-hand about the homophobic violence.

Until March 31, Ontarians without status have access to health care because of the province’s Physician and Hospital Services for Uninsured Persons program.

Will the Premier please listen to the Ontario Medical Association and reinstate health care for undocumented people, set to expire in three days?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I want to be as clear as I can possibly be, because it is deeply disturbing that the NDP continue to put a false narrative out there. We—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll ask the minister to withdraw.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Withdraw.

We are returning to a funding model that existed pre-pandemic, that ensured that individuals who do not have an up-to-date OHIP card have access—that ensured 75 community health clinics that have funding models that ensure individuals without OHIP coverage get access.

Individuals who appear at emergency departments in our Ontario hospitals get health coverage.

It is deeply disturbing that we continue this narrative with the NDP opposition to suggest that there is a change that is not happening.

We are returning to what we had in March 2020. It was there under the Liberals. It was there because it assists people.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question? The member for Nickel Belt.

M me France Gélinas: The minister should know how disrespectful her answer was to the people I represent, who live four hours away from the nearest community health centre.

Yesterday I and the minister and received thousands of emails calling on the provincial government to ensure continued access to medically necessary services for people living in Ontario. These people are Ontarians like you and I, Speaker. They are not able to get an OHIP card because of systemic barriers.

How is a homeless person supposed to go to ServiceOntario with a proof of address? They are homeless, but they deserve care.

What is the minister going to do in the next three days to ensure that she removes barriers so that every Ontarian who qualifies for a health card gets one?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Again, I will remind the member opposite that community health care centres, midwifery care and emergency care all will continue, whether that individual has an up-to-date OHIP card or not.

Health811 is another program that is available all across Ontario to ensure that individuals can speak to a registered nurse to find out about their health condition and see what the next steps are.

To suggest, as they have, that Ukrainian refugees are suddenly going to be without health care coverage is completely and utterly false, and if the member opposite really wants to have credibility in this field, she needs to stand up and say that in the province of Ontario, Ukrainian refugees, individuals without a health card, will have it as they had it in March 2020.

Land use planning

Mr. Mike Schreiner: My question is for the Premier.

The financial cost of sprawl is huge. One study determined that it costs 2.5 times more to service sprawl than to service a new built home in existing developed areas. Another study showed that when you factor in both tax revenue and servicing costs, homes constructed in built-up areas pay for themselves, while sprawl represents an ongoing cost for property taxpayers.

Speaker, people are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis and a housing affordability crisis.

So why is the Premier pursuing a sprawl agenda, that paves over the greenbelt and makes housing and life less affordable for people and communities?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Steve Clark: Mr. Speaker, let’s be clear. I’ve said this in the House before and I’ll say it again: Ontario municipalities are still able to collect development charges on most market housing, provided that these are increased at a reasonable and predictable rate.

At the end of the day, more homes and growing communities make sense for taxpayers. They increase the tax base. They allow municipalities to be able to provide services to their local communities at a lower cost. That’s something that our government subscribes to, but municipalities need to do the same.

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

Mr. Mike Schreiner: With all due respect, I wasn’t talking about development charges—although that’s a problem as well; I’m talking about the cost of sprawl.

There’s overwhelming evidence that the cost of sprawling out will hit people, municipalities and taxpayers’ pocketbooks hard. There’s overwhelming evidence from the government’s own housing task force that we do not need to open the greenbelt to address the housing crisis.

Speaker, there’s a whole generation of young people wondering if they will ever be able to afford a home.

The government’s sprawl agenda will result in more expensive homes, higher property taxes, and elevated climate-fuelled flood risk.

So will the government stand up for property tax payers and people struggling to find an affordable home by cancelling their expensive sprawl agenda and keeping their promise not to develop the greenbelt?

Hon. Steve Clark: Speaker, what I am going to do is I’m going to listen to this guy’s mayor, Mayor Cam Guthrie from the city of Guelph, who spoke last Tuesday about our budget. Here’s his quote: “Today’s budget speaks directly to the homelessness, mental health and addictions issues our communities are facing. The government has listened to municipalities and stakeholders and responded by providing base funding increases to these programs by committing $202 million in additional funds on these issues. Budgets are about helping Ontarians, and this budget will help dearly.”

Northern Ontario development

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

Under the previous Liberal government, so many opportunities for fostering economic growth across northern Ontario were missed. They were ignored—quite frankly, they were squandered.

Unlike the previous Liberal government, our government must recognize the value and the potential that is present in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. The people of my riding and all the other communities across the north are counting on our government to deliver on the commitments that we made to invest in meaningful priorities that strengthen our local economies.

Can the minister please explain how our government is building a stronger and a more inclusive Ontario?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I want to thank the member for his question.

I rise in this place often to talk about the modernization of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and the help it has given to businesses and leveraging. It’s time we started to chat about the incredible opportunities it provides for job creation and job protection, and how internship programs support that.

When we modernized the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, we committed to trying to understand better how our youth and young people could access jobs in their own communities—in Timiskaming–Cochrane, to the tune of almost a million dollars, a medical recruiter to plan and implement a physician recruitment strategy, saving them money, allowing them to go out with somebody and recruit physicians; an economic development assistant; the Northwood Recovery clinic’s registered practical nurse intern; and the Northern Policy Institute, to hire a data and analytics intern.

Mr. Speaker, more than 80% of these people retain their jobs when they’re in internship. I’m sure the member opposite supports this kind of—

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

Mr. Ross Romano: Thank you to the minister for that response.

It is evident that under our leadership—the leadership of our Premier and this minister—investments made by our government through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. are resulting in positive, tangible outcomes for the people of the north.

Our government’s respect for the people of the north and our well-thought-out plans are a sharp contrast to the pattern of neglect that was evident under the previous Liberal government.

Speaker, I’ve knocked on thousands of doors throughout Sault Ste. Marie and other northern communities, and when you just speak to the average person in northern Ontario, the message is always the same: They felt ignored by the former Liberal government. They felt like they didn’t matter. And now, they’re seeing a government that’s putting them first and putting a lot of attention on the north.

In order to remain current and competitive, our government must continue to focus on addressing the needs and the opportunities that will advance prosperity.

Can the minister please elaborate on how this funding will contribute to economic prosperity for communities in the north?

Hon. Greg Rickford: In Timiskaming–Cochrane, we talked about almost a million dollars and 34 jobs or internships.

Let’s move a little farther northwest, Mr. Speaker, where we’re into Kiiwetinoong and Mushkegowuk–James Bay. More than $500,000 helped us create 14 jobs and/or intern positions.

And listen to the diversity of these opportunities for young people: The municipality of Red Lake hired an infrastructure intern and recreation and activities programmer—we have a similar one in Vermilion Bay, and it works great—the Institut de recherche InnovaNor to hire a psychometrics and administrative assistant; Smooth Rock Falls Hospital in Cochrane district hired a detox centre program worker.

Mr. Speaker, those are just a few examples. What’s really exciting is the Indigenous Internship Program. The Obishikokaang Resources Corp. hired an Indigenous business service coordinator intern.

These folks are keeping their jobs when they’re finished their internship, staying in their communities, and providing a better opportunity for their community.

Education funding / Violence in schools

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Violence in our schools is at deeply concerning levels. Students at York Memorial Collegiate have staged a walkout in protest, while parents in Ottawa have picketed Vimy Ridge Public School calling for action.

Parents, principals, teachers and education workers are calling for increased mental health supports and staffing to keep students and staff safe.

But even though half of our schools have no mental health resources, this government voted against our motion to provide school boards with adequate resources. Instead, they’re forcing school boards to make cuts.

Why is the government refusing to make investments to keep our children safe?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Education.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Mr. Speaker, we are deeply concerned about the rise of violence in communities across this country, and part of our response was to increase base funding in education in the most recent budget by an additional $1.3 billion. We have added and expanded mental health funding by 400%, compared to the former Liberals—$10 million more this year; $20 million in student nutrition programs; an expansion of after-school programs. We created the Black graduation coach program and expanded the Indigenous programs to help those kids reach their full potential.

We have increased support and staffing by a quantum of 7,000 more front-line workers to help reduce the risk and keep children safe and focused on learning in the classroom.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question. The member for London North Centre.

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: Speaker, the minister doesn’t even mention school violence, and school violence does not show up once in this budget.

My question is back to the Premier.

Violence impacts every student when there’s an incident in the classroom. It impairs learning. It changes the culture of trust, respect and engagement.

In their 2023 budget submission, ETFO Thames Valley Teacher Local reported that in London-area schools, the six-month average is 636 violent incidents per month—636 per month. The highest month? Almost 1,000 violent incidents in a school. But most violent incidents go unreported.

What is this government doing to directly address the rising tide of violence in schools and make sure that students are safe?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Speaker, to answer the question—we are increasing funding by $1.3 billion this year. We have increased staffing by 7,000 more education workers.

The member opposite speaks about getting to the root cause of crime, and therefore, I would ask members opposite to stand with this government and every provincial Premier to urge the federal government to end the revolving door of justice and get tough on violent criminals who put too many of our kids at risk. That’s the way we do it. The other way we do it is if we’re prepared to stand with law enforcement against violent crime that’s impacting too many children in our schools, in our communities and across our country.

We’re going to increase investments. We’re going to support our kids and, more importantly, ensure they are safe when they’re in their school premises.

Health care

Mr. Adil Shamji: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health, who, in three days, plans to cut health care funding to the most vulnerable people in Ontario. In doing so, the minister is sending the message that those without OHIP do not deserve the same care as the rest of us. But this is Ontario. This is Canada. Everyone deserves care.

The reality is, most uninsured people actually are entitled to health insurance, but they face social and physical barriers that prevent them from getting an OHIP card. This government is singling out the people who need their help the most and telling them they would rather save a buck than fund their health care. Uninsured people will still get care once they are sick enough, and it is downright sad and not the least bit surprising that the minister is perfectly fine pushing the financial burden onto our already strained health care budgets.

Why does the minister think it’s a good idea to financially drain our public hospitals further, and why must she do it by draining the dignity of our patients?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Oh, Speaker, that is really rich considering we’re actually returning to a program that existed under the Liberal government, that ensured individuals who do not have an active and up-to-date OHIP card have access to service, whether that is through Health811, where they can speak directly to a registered nurse; whether it is through midwifery care, community health centres—75 that operate within the province of Ontario; and, of course, through our publicly funded hospitals.

It is very, very challenging for me not to look at that member and say, “Look at your party’s history and say what was wrong with it in 2020 that suddenly doesn’t make it sufficient today.”

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Adil Shamji: Well, I’ll tell you one difference, Mr. Speaker. We have heard the minister insist that COVID-19 is no longer a factor and that therefore these programs no longer need to be in place. Well, I’m sorry to break it to the minister, but someone has to: This isn’t over. Our health care system remains strained beyond belief. Last fall, our emergency wait times were the highest they’ve ever been. The Red Cross had to save our ICUs, and the surgical backlog is bigger than ever before. The pandemic struck at the heart of our health care system, and the wound is just beginning to heal. Now is not the time to be cutting programs that both hospitals and patients need.

In the week of March 12 to 18, there were almost 4,000 COVID cases in Ontario and 213 hospitalizations. What happens when that number begins to rise again next fall and all of this funding is cut and none of these programs are in place—no paid sick days, no hospital funding, no coverage for uninsured people? Who will pay for the minister’s cruelty and recklessness then?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to caution the member on his language.

I’ll return to the Minister of Health to reply.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Mr. Speaker, where was the member opposite when we were actually putting these programs in place? Where was the member? They were voting against it. Where was the member opposite when we invested through the ministry of OMAFRA $2.2 million in southwestern Ontario that actually provides additional service for our international and agricultural foreign workers? Where was the member opposite? Sitting on his hands and voting against those investments.

Disaster relief

Mr. Dave Smith: My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Many rural and remote communities across Ontario have experienced difficulties and challenges as a result of extreme weather events. These include fast and powerful storms known as derechos, such as what we witnessed in May of last year, as well as tornado activity in July. These events pose a significant threat to life and safety in several communities, including my own. Individuals and families experienced first-hand the mess that was left behind from downed trees as well as other debris. We also know that downed trees can create other hazards, including the risk for fires and flooding.

Can the minister please explain how our government is supporting communities across Ontari