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November 5, 2024

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2024-Nov-05 (PDF)

L178 - Tue 5 Nov 2024 / Mar 5 nov 2024

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 5 November 2024 Mardi 5 novembre 2024

Orders of the Day

Honouring Veterans Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à honorer les anciens combattants

Members’ Statements

Anniversary of MS Chi-Cheemaun

Hospital parking fees

Whitby Health Centre

Child and family services

Remembrance Day

Health care

Clarissa Townsend

Le Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans

Brampton athletes

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25

Introduction of Visitors

Question Period

Affordable housing

Government accountability

Health care

Life sciences sector

Homelessness

Transportation infrastructure

Health care

Health care

Taxation

Northern police services

Transportation infrastructure

Public safety

Justice system

Ontario film and television industry

Municipal by-election in Toronto

Flu immunization

Visitor

Introduction of Visitors

Introduction of Bills

The Abiezer Pentecostal Church (Toronto) Act, 2024

Skybolt Construction Company Limited Act, 2024

Petitions

Health care

Public safety

Social assistance

Transportation infrastructure

Health care

Affordable housing

Social assistance

Affordable housing

Highway maintenance

Supportive housing

Northern Health Travel Grant

Arts and cultural funding

Orders of the Day

Time allocation

Private Members’ Public Business

Trucking safety / Sécurité du transport routier

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Honouring Veterans Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à honorer les anciens combattants

Mr. McGregor, on behalf of Mr. Michael D. Ford, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 218,

An Act to amend various Acts with respect to honouring military veterans / Projet de loi 218, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne les hommages rendus aux anciens combattants militaires.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Would the minister care to lead off the debate.

It’s an honour to be here today as we start second reading of the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024. This bill proposes amendments to the Remembrance Week Act, 2016, the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020, the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, and the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006.

If passed, and once fully implemented, this legislation and associated regulations would help honour and recognize Ontarians who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces, enhance financial support for eligible veterans and promote career pathways for veterans and military families.

Speaker, Ontario is home to almost 150,000 veterans and that number is steadily growing as members are released from military service each year. Over the years, our government has introduced a number of initiatives to support veterans, including financial assistance, health care services and programs to help with the transition to civilian life. These efforts are part of a broader commitment to honour and support those who have served.

Ontario and Ontarians have a long history of supporting the security and defence of our country. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the Ontario Veterans’ Memorial and Afghanistan Memorial, which sits just outside on the grounds of Queen’s Park, commemorates the participation of this province’s citizens in military campaigns from the 1860s to recent peacekeeping missions, as well as those who continue to serve today.

Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces have contributed to our country in countless ways, such as the Royal Canadian Air Force, whose members defend and protect Canadian and North American airspace and who contribute to international peace and security in over 100 different roles and responsibilities, or through to the Canadian army, whose highly capable personnel work in over 30 roles serving in communities across Canada, including in remote locations of the country, or the Royal Canadian Navy, whose members tirelessly work to protect Canada’s coastlines and Arctic sovereignty.

Through their selfless acts of bravery, whether by land, sea or sky, veterans have protected and continue to safeguard our values, defend our rights and freedoms, and shape our nation’s history. Through their actions and dedication, they have shown a strength of character and commitment to this country that has defined the Canadian Armed Forces for generations.

In World War I and World War II, the majority of those who fought and died for freedom were in their early twenties. Many were teenagers: 17-, 18- and 19-year-old boys. It’s impossible to imagine what those soldiers went through. They were too young, and yet carried the commitment and sacrificed themselves for the greater good.

When we announced the tabling of our bill yesterday, I had the honour to speak with veterans whom we’d invited to the Legislature. The stories that I heard made me put my life into perspective. I implore everyone to go to their local Legion, volunteer and start listening. The wisdom of the veterans could help people understand what’s important. The veteran community and their experiences are invaluable to our society. Everyone in this chamber likely has a story or an experience recounting how veterans have brought honour to our country through their service, not only putting their country before themselves but promoting Canadian values with integrity, both here in Canada and abroad.

Both Canadian armed services currently serving as well as veterans who have now transitioned back to civilian life deserve our respect and heartfelt gratitude, not just during Remembrance Week and then Remembrance Day on November 11, but every day of the year. That’s why we are proposing legislative amendments and initiatives to reaffirm our government’s deepest gratitude for their sacrifices and our commitment to build a stronger and more prosperous Ontario.

One way that our government is showing our commitment to our province’s veteran community is through proposed changes to the Remembrance Week Act, 2016. This includes renaming the act to the Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024, to honour and recognize all veterans, including those who served in addition to those who lost their lives for this great country.

We are also proposing a new

section in this act that would, if passed, provide that the minister responsible for the act may honour veterans with various recognition efforts, including by bestowing awards.

Over this past summer, we engaged in discussions with key veterans groups in Ottawa to listen to their stories and hear their thoughts and suggestions for ways our government can better honour and support veterans. From these discussions with representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion and other organizations supporting veterans, we heard that any recognition of veterans on behalf of the public is welcome, but especially for veterans whose volunteerism brings meaningful supports and contributions to their communities.

If I may, we rightfully acknowledge and honour our veterans for their service abroad or service while they’re in active service, but, in our government’s view, we don’t always do the best job of honouring the veterans when they come home and contribute to their communities in civilian life. That’s what the next initiative that we’re going to talk about is hoping to address.

To that end, I’m pleased to share that our government is developing a new award focused on veterans that would be delivered in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Provincial Command to show our profound gratitude and specifically recognize veterans who have made significant contributions in their communities here in Ontario. This would be the first provincial award in Ontario specifically recognizing veterans.

Our government recognizes the extraordinary courage and significant sacrifices made by veterans across the province. We will always express our unwavering appreciation by highlighting and celebrating veteran service and formally recognizing their contributions to our local communities across Ontario.

I know my good friend and colleague the Solicitor General will be speaking more about this shortly; however, I want to put a pronounced emphasis on another aspect of this proposed legislation: the condemnation of stolen valour. With intended changes to the

preamble of the Remembrance Week Act, 2016, to condemn any act that disrespects veterans, including acts of stolen valour, our government is reaffirming that veterans deserve to be treated with dignity and our upmost respect. We will always be clear and unequivocal: Our government will always condemn any act that disrespects veterans or detracts from the honour of those who have actively served their country. Anyone lying about their military service, rank or medals received must be condemned in the strongest possible terms today and every day.

We are also proposing to rename Remembrance Week in Ontario to Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week to better recognize living veterans for their service and contributions in addition to those who gave their lives in service to our country.

Our province’s veteran community is growing every year, with service members of varying ages. Whether it is by serving abroad in active combat, such as those who fought in Afghanistan, or those who have been deployed across the world as a part of peacekeeping missions, we have heard many stories of valour and how former service members brought credit and pride to our country.

It is important that we recognize also, Madam Speaker, that the veteran population is changing. For instance, the more than 40,000 service members who served in Afghanistan will soon become the larger cohort of veterans.

By renaming Remembrance Week to Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day, we’ll be able to better commemorate those who have given their lives in service to this country, as well as those who are living, to ensure that all their service and sacrifices will never be forgotten. This proposal positions Ontario as a provincial leader across Canada in legislating Veterans’ Week.

Speaker, while our government is committed to the recognition of veterans for their service and broader contributions to our local communities, we are also steadfast in our commitment to providing them with tangible supports. With that in mind, I’d like to talk a little bit about the Soldiers’ Aid Commission. While my colleague the member from Thornhill will speak in greater detail about how our government reformed the Soldiers’ Aid Commission in 2020, and will continue to support this respected commission to reach more veterans, I’ll focus on the high-level themes.

This commission provides financial support to eligible veterans in need to help with many of life’s typical expenses: health- and mental health-related supports, housing-related expenditures, basic clothing and personal items, and employment-related supports. The reality is, the transition to civilian life can be difficult for a lot of our veterans, so the need for this type of support is real and growing.

When we took office, the typical profile of a veteran had already changed. It’s with sadness that, with each passing year, the number of living veterans who served in the Second World War and the Korean War decreases. Until recently, younger veterans who served more recently were ineligible for support through the Soldiers’ Aid Commission. We must not forget those who served in recent UN peacekeeping missions, for example, in Rwanda, Somalia or elsewhere, and we must also never forget the over 40,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces who fought most recently in an active combat zone in Afghanistan.

Speaker, we have a commitment to support those who fight for our freedoms, including the right to free and fair elections, and even for the right for us as parliamentarians to speak in this House. I know some members of this House are probably a little upset that I get to speak, but more’s the pity.

There was a choice that we faced between winding down a commission that had been truly groundbreaking over the course of more than 100 years or modernizing it to support a whole new generation of veterans and their families. We chose the latter. We chose to keep faith with those who served and protected us. We know that our veterans rightfully earn an overwhelming level of public support. We know that Ontarians want veterans to be supported as they establish their post-service lives. We know that, and so we took the opportunity four years ago to do what is right and do what is best for our veterans and their families by modernizing the Soldiers’ Aid Commission.

Veterans face unique challenges, some of which require assistance to overcome, and this is exactly where the Soldiers’ Aid Commission can play a role. Veterans gave so much for our country and our province; that is why we’re committed to making sure that the Soldiers’ Aid Commission remains an integral part of Ontario’s strong veteran community.

This morning, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services announced our government’s plan to enhance financial assistance available through the Soldiers’ Aid Commission for eligible veterans in need. The intended changes increase the maximum amount of financial assistance that eligible veterans and their eligible family members may receive through the Soldiers’ Aid Commission from $2,000 to $3,000 in a 12-month period. And applicants may apply multiple times over the 12-month period until they have received the maximum amount of $3,000 for eligible expenses. If both spouses in a household are veterans, each spouse can apply for up to $3,000 in a 12-month period.

Speaker, this increase in financial support will give veterans more help to pay for essential services and supports, which includes health-related services such as hearing aids or eyeglasses, prescription and dental needs, specialized equipment like wheelchairs, and home repairs and moving costs.

We want to make it easier for veterans to apply for financial assistance from the commission. They’ve done so much for us, Speaker. Moving barriers out of the way for them to get the aid that they rightfully deserve is the least that our government can do.

We also want to make it easier for them to apply. From the commission right now, veterans need to apply for other funding from other veteran-specific programs before applying to the commission. Under our planned changes, veterans will only need to seek federal veteran supports before applying to the commission, which we hope will improve access and get the money where it rightfully belongs, assisting our veterans in their transitions to civilian lives.

Our support doesn’t stop there. The proposed Honouring Veterans Act, 2024, builds on work already under way to promote enhanced health care service delivery and increase access to virtual health care services through Health811. Moreover, with help from our labour minister and our colleagues from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, our bill, if passed, would also support career pathways for veterans and military families. My good friend the member for Mississauga–Erin Mills will speak more about that.

Ontario loves, respects and honours our veterans. While we can never thank them enough for their service to our great nation, we can commit to always doing more to support and recognize them. Our government is doing exactly that through the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024.

As we approach Remembrance Day on November 11, let us recommit as a Legislature, not just today but year-round, to recognizing veterans for their service and contributions to our communities, supporting them through financial supports such as the Soldiers’ Aid Commission and promoting a seamless transition into civilian employment in skilled trades for them post-service.

Madam Speaker, I would humbly say that I think this is a great bill, I think it deserves cross-party support and I certainly hope our colleagues in other parties will support this bill and pass this as soon as we can so we can get the support that we need for our veterans.

When you hear some of the stories of our brave men and women who served our country, I’d humbly submit that I don’t think we can ever thank them enough, but we can sure as heck try. With this bill that we’re putting forward, our government is doing our part to honour our veterans, support them and let them know that they’ve had our backs and we’ll have their backs as well.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): I recognize the member for Mississauga–Erin Mills.

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: Thanks to the Acting Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturism for his speech.

It is my honour and privilege to be speaking to the Honouring Veterans Act. Words cannot truly describe the level of commitment and sacrifice one must have to serve their country in the Armed Forces. That’s exactly why we, the civilians, must take such an effort to make sure that they receive the honour and support they deserve. It is our duty to show that their commitment is not forgotten and to recognize the veterans who continue serving their communities as volunteers.

As the Acting Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism already mentioned, we are also proposing changes to help veterans to find expedited career pathways into the skilled trades for themselves and their families. Our veterans are not only heroes who have protected our country and fought for our freedoms, they are also professionals with valuable skills that Ontario needs to build for the future. They deserve to have our support when they return to civilian life and employment once their service is complete.

From our consultations with service members, their spouses and veterans, we heard that a considerable challenge when returning to civilian life is finding a career that complements the skills and experiences learned during service. The Honouring Veterans Act proposes to formally recognize certain military trades with their civilian trades equivalent and help them start their civilian careers in the skilled trades faster, without burdensome red tape and delays.

Veterans are professionals who possess valuable skills that Ontario needs to help build for the future. With around 8,000 Canadian Armed Forces members released from service every year, our government is creating a win-win-win situation for veterans, employers and our economy.

In the technology sector by itself, the majority of the technology we use today was military 10 years ago. So those veterans have skills in areas which are leading-edge to use in civilian life today, but we need to make sure that they have that tool.

It’s not only giving them the ability to get integrated in civilian life when they come out of service, it actually helps them to blend. So it’s not only blending their time in the service, it is actually blending their exit strategy from the service and where they are going to end up after the years of service they will be serving their country for. We are doing this by proposing amendments to the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021. It would help support skilled trades career pathways for veterans and Armed Forces members.

In response to our government’s consultations with the military and veterans’ community, we are also proposing changes to the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006, with Skilled Trades Ontario to accelerate credential recognition for veterans and military spouses who are licensed trade professionals from out of the province but within Canada. This will enable our government to modernize credential recognition for veterans and military spouses of service members.

Our government is also building on prior learning assessment and recognition processes at Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities to recognize the valuable learning experiences of veterans of Canada’s Armed Forces. If passed, these changes will empower veterans and their families with the skills and a pathway for meaningful employment after service.

Madam Speaker, I think this is a great piece of legislation. It will help veterans who joined the service to know that they have a clear path to go back to civilian life after, to be able to meet the needs of their families, to be able to be integrated in the community, to be able to be productive—and we need their skills.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I really appreciate being able to speak about the bill. I think it’s great for the country and great for Ontario.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): I recognize the Solicitor General.

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: I’m delighted to rise and to speak on the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024, and to thank my colleague the member from Brampton North, the acting minister and my friend, for bringing this forward. It is not lost on us, on the week that we speak about this bill, just prior to Remembrance Day.

I also wanted to acknowledge my colleague and friend from Kiiwetinoong who yesterday reminded us why we should think of the late Senator Murray Sinclair today and every day. Senator Sinclair was not afraid to let us learn about the path to reconciliation.

I think it is so important that we remembered him yesterday, and every day, but also to acknowledge the contributions that First Nations, Inuit and Métis veterans, who served Canada—that we remember them on November 8. I think of November 8 as an important day in our calendar just like November 11. For the 12,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis who served Canada, we should remember their contribution so that we have a country that we can live safely in and have a country for other generations to follow.

So I ask everyone here today to join me in remembering and honouring the profound debt we owe to Canadian veterans. I will be at my Royal Canadian Legion, just around the corner from my constituency office, on Monday, as I have done in years past, to look at the cenotaph that they have there and to not only recall the stories that we read—and understanding that history was never accomplished by people who did nothing. These were real people with real families, with real lives, and they put everything on the line for ourselves and our generations to come.

I always listen attentively just before—next week, we will be on our break in the constituency, but I know the member from St. Catharines also speaks every year in the House as we remember those who served on Remembrance Day. I think of other members that have risen as well to tell the stories of their families and people that served. In my own family there’s one story—I’ll have to do more research on it—about a great uncle who served in the then-British colonial army, as it was told to me, who served in the First World War.

It’s hard to believe when you look at the numbers of veterans—unfortunately, we don’t have any alive from the First World War, and the numbers who served in the Second World War are dwindling very quickly, but the young country of Canada contributed so much. That’s why we have to be there for the veterans in our day, in this generation, so that we never leave them behind.

In times of both war and peace, veterans stood as a defender of our freedom and values, safeguarding the rights and security that every Canadian cherishes.

Some veterans, when they came back from service, came forward to serve in other ways. They became firefighters, police officers, first responders, dentists and doctors. They had lives too where they were able to share their stories of not only their service in conflict and wars, but took it even further to make a difference in the lives of our communities.

I had the honour very early this year—I think it was the first event of 2024—when I went to Toronto Police Service and I met our Toronto Police Service officers in uniform who had given their service to the Canadian Armed Forces. Let me tell you something, it is unbelievable to hear these stories. A person’s commitment to serve, as the Premier has said many times, as others have talked about, this concept that I hold dear of service over self, gives new meaning when you meet somebody that served, that is a veteran, but also has come back to serve again. And I think of those incredible police officers, firefighters and first responders.

There are things we can do. There are small things we can all do, especially this month, and one of them is attending or volunteering at a remembrance or veterans’ appreciation event. For those who have Legions in their riding, it’s so simple: On November 11, go to the Legion; go for the service; see for yourself. Lose yourself in a moment of time that, for my generation, may seem a little bit distant from the First World War, the Second World War or the Korean conflict.

When I think of those veterans today, I think of those that served in Afghanistan and other conflicts in the world where Canada has continued to contribute, because we are a country that believes in peace, we are a country that is optimistic and we are a country with incredible values that welcomes everyone from the world to bring the best of who they are into our province. This is why I’ve always said that one of our greatest strengths is the diversity we all bring.

Participating in a Remembrance Day event is very important. If we live near a museum—I know in Ottawa, there are phenomenal museums that also tell the story of Canadians that have contributed—go to the museum and tell the stories, because I think it’s important. We must learn about the contributions that veterans made across Canada. Each region of Ontario has stories of veterans who served bravely, shaping the fabric of our communities through their dedication and sacrifice.

It’s understanding these contributions that connects us to the history and to the legacy, and to ask them to tell their stories if they are so able, because they’re hard. We can’t only look at history books and read old newspaper clippings to understand the contributions that people have made. That’s why, if you see a veteran, approach them and talk to them and learn from their own expert eyewitness to history. This knowledge deepens our respect and reminds us of our responsibility to support and remember veterans as an essential part of Ontario’s heritage and identity.

I think it is important also that we look to veterans as guest speakers to honour them when we can. For those in the Legislature that were fortunate enough to receive over our lifetime a government medal, let me tell you, it’s a high honour. I received one in the early 1990s; I was rather young, and I was overwhelmed to receive a medal for a contribution that I had made. I know many of us from time to time at different occasions—the member sitting near me from Richmond Hill; I’ve seen her wear her medals as well.

The medals are an important recognition of a contribution made. But when you see a medal on a veteran, it’s just taking it to a different level—something so small but so important for them, that they were recognized for something that they did. I think that’s important. So inviting them to be a guest speaker at an event is important.

Carrying out acts of appreciation to honour veterans—sometimes it’s a small honour. I have some veterans in my constituency of York Centre, and I enjoy sitting with them at the Legion when I can and understanding their contribution, not only what it was at the time that they served in active service, but the work and the resources that they bring to another generation. When we see the young cadets who come forward, such as on Remembrance Day, we see the umbilical tie, one generation to another, and that’s important.

We have to support campaigns that honour veterans. These campaigns promote awareness of the challenges that veterans face. This is very important. We can donate to campaigns to contribute to initiatives that improve the lives of veterans and their families. Supporting the campaigns helps foster a culture of respect and gratitude.

That’s why the bill that my colleague tabled today, the Honouring Veterans Act, includes proposals from the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and others who have contributed to why this bill is so important. I really want to say thank you to all the ministries.

The act, along with supporting initiatives by several ministries, will expand provincial recognition for veterans, increase financial and community supports for veterans and support career pathways for veterans and military families. It’s important because Ontario is home to approximately 149,000 veterans, and this number is growing, with 8,000 to 9,000 Canadian Armed Forces members being released from military service each year. And we know that while most veterans do well post-service, many also face socio-economic challenges that impact they’re well-being and quality of life.

As well, military spouses also face challenges and barriers. That’s why we have to be there for them. They were there for us.

Expanding the provincial recognition for veterans and facilitating a process to support programs are essential steps in reinforcing our dedication to honouring those who sacrificed so much for all of us. Without adequate support, these individuals often face unnecessary challenges, from financial stress to mental and health struggles. It is important that we are there for them.

We need to talk again about Remembrance Week. I started at the top of my remarks to make sure that we know the date, November 8. We spoke about that. That is very important, Indigenous Remembrance Day. We must remember that day.

November 11 is also an important day. That is the day when we come together. We come together and we go to our Royal Canadian Legions or we go to communities around Ontario that have a cenotaph. Just stop at the cenotaph. Stop for a minute and reflect on how lucky we are to live in this incredible province, thanks to the service of others.

It’s important, as part of this legislation, that we amend the name of the statute to Remembrance Day and Veterans Week Act, 2024, that we amend the

preamble to honour those who served, in addition to those who gave their lives, and add a statement condemning acts of stolen valour.

I want to talk about stolen valour. Yesterday, my colleague, the minister, brought in veterans. I had a chance to understand more about why stolen valour is such a threat. I never really thought about it until I read the bill and I made some calls myself, because I don’t know what type of individual would think it’s okay to be an impostor, to wear medals that don’t belong to them, to feel that they have a rite of passage to be somebody that they’re not. There is no society where this would be acceptable.

I really take privilege in even understanding what type of deranged individual could do something like this, because it’s totally unacceptable. It’s unacceptable anywhere that anybody should steal away valour or be an imposter to somebody else. I think of firefighters, police officers, first responders. I think of so many people, whose work to keep the province safe, is rooted in the identity of who they are. Anything that was awarded to them is theirs. We can’t have somebody using a privilege that doesn’t belong to them, as a means of saying, “I will be that person.” This goes beyond the pale of anything that anybody could justify.

I have to tell you, Madam Speaker, because I’ve had the privilege of attending at so many march-past ceremonies in Aylmer, Ontario, at the Ontario Police College:—some of them served in the military. For the 10 march-past ceremonies I’ve been privileged to see, almost 5,000 people joined the ranks of police officers. Every time I look at the medals on the jackets of these officers, who are in some cases quite young, I ask the question: Where did you get the medals? Who awarded you this? And they say, “I served in the Canadian Armed Forces. I was awarded a medal for something meritorious that I did to stand up.”

I talk of the importance of the uniform. The uniform of a police officer or a firefighter commands respect. It means when you go to a community wearing your uniform, it has an enormous responsibility for the person wearing it, that they take with a sacred oath, a sacred trust. For the people who see men and women in uniform, we respect that uniform for the importance it commands. Stolen valour, somebody who feels it’s okay to put on somebody else’s uniform, that didn’t earn the right to do that, is causing not only confusion in the eyes of others—because when we see somebody in uniform, we assume that that person had the authority and the charge and the carriage to wear that uniform.

I find this beyond horrific that we are even talking about what the minister mentioned in his remarks—stolen valour—of how somebody could do it and get away with it. This really bothers me, and that’s why I’m delighted that in the bill we’re talking about stolen valour as a way to raise awareness, as a way to remind people that you can’t do it. It’s not right.

So on this Remembrance Day, pay even more attention to the fact that the people that wear the uniforms—and the veterans that come out, I might add, on Remembrance Week, to wear their uniforms again. We’re wearing poppies on our jackets and on our clothing ahead of Remembrance Day to remind—and we say the words, “Lest we forget.” It’s up to us in this generation and this present time never to forget. That’s why we have to be grateful.

Madame la Présidente, je voudrais remercier chaque personne qui assure la sécurité de l’Ontario. Pour le premier ministre de l’Ontario et pour moi, c’est personnel.

It is personal. It is personal that we thank people that come forward to serve—and do you know what? It should be personal. It should be personal to every person living in Ontario, coming to Ontario, seeing the richness as to why we are so optimistic. It’s because we believe in our province, we believe in our future and together, we can do so much. It goes back to remembering our past.

History is hard. History was never made by people that did nothing. So today, and every day, especially on November 8, especially on November 11, let us remember, lest we forget.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Further debate?

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: I rise today to speak on an incredibly important topic—one that is important for all Ontarians and one that touches me personally. I am truly honoured to be here today in our Legislature, in the House of the people, bought and paid for dearly, to acknowledge and celebrate the people that have given us a gift.

Usually, when I speak with seniors, servicemen and -women or veterans, I bring what I call the gift of laughter. I have some fun with the crowd. I let people know that laughter makes us younger, more handsome and more beautiful, and there is a lot of truth to that.

But today, I would like to talk about another gift, and that is the gift of freedom. You see, I was born in Incheon, South Korea. Incheon is where the United Nations forces that included the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces landed to liberate Korea. As a young boy, I saw bodies lying on the road, B-29 bombers flying overhead, tanks in the streets and soldiers walking by our house. This experience stays with you forever.

What also has always stayed with me is that it was Canada—her brave sons and daughters—who answered the call. They came to the shores of a faraway country to save the Korean people, defend democracy and protect freedom, so that I can stand here today with you. I will be forever thankful for the ultimate sacrifice that 516 Canadians made to save Korea.

I could not have experienced my gift of freedom as a boy in Korea without the brave Canadians who answered the call during the Korean War. We could not experience our gift of freedom if Canada and her Allies did not liberate Europe or in any other war before or since. This is how incredible and important a thing that our servicemen and -women have done. None of us could live in the best province—Ontario—in the best country in the world—Canada—unless we have this gift of freedom—a freedom that this little boy from more than 70 years ago could not have imagined.

I also could not have imagined that I would ever be standing here honouring the people who have and continue to answer the call, who put our lives ahead of theirs and made sure that we could all be here today. As we honour and remember with this new piece of legislation today, I want to thank them for my gift of freedom. Their sacrifice and the ongoing sacrifice of all those who serve today helps to protect this Legislature, a symbol of the people who are represented by those elected. They safeguard our beautiful province and country. This is why I am so honoured to stand and speak to many of the incredible pieces of this bill.

Our province is stronger when everyone is connected—when we are able to weave their unique selves in the fabric of our communities. This is why the community supports in this bill are so important. It is not only seniors who can feel isolated—our veterans can feel isolated. By enhancing community supports for our veterans, including by ensuring they have access to quality services, by exploring partnerships to support their housing needs and by introducing a transit relief program, we can combat social isolation for our veterans.

When our veterans stay connected, we are all made better by the connection. Their strength continues to be our strength. Through this bill, our strength can also be shared with them.

When we look across the worlds of business and the not-for-profit sector, we see many veterans who, after their military careers, have found inspiring ways to give back through taking on critical roles in these organizations.

We know that many of the lessons learned while in the military have a direct application in so many areas across our province. Lessons in leadership, hard work and interpersonal communication can be directly applied across a host of different sectors. While these skills are directly transferable, sometimes our veterans need extra help to make the transition into new careers. This is why the elements of this bill that assist in that transition are so important.

Streamlining the pathways for veterans and military families to have their credentials recognized is a marvellous, common-sense approach which fully aligns with our government’s ongoing work to cut red tape and deliver services for the people of Ontario. We need to ensure that there are no barriers to those making that transition. I want to thank my colleagues for all the work they have put into developing a bill which helps veterans and their families transition into second careers.

These supports can help ensure that our veterans always feel connected, that their community cares about them and their families, always. Removing GO Transit and UP Express transit fares is another important way that we can help our veterans feel the support of our whole community.

It is an honour, today, to speak to a bill that includes provisions for a new award for our veterans and that is delivered in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command. My ministry, earlier this year, updated our regulations regarding who can partner with the government in the operation of seniors active living centres. We enabled more organizations, including Legions, to join our existing municipal partners in delivering key activities that keep seniors active and connected in our communities.

I want to thank our Premier and the Minister of Finance for their leadership through the fall economic statement to provide funding which will enable the government to create 100 new SALCs across Ontario. This historic investment will enable more opportunities for all our seniors, including our veterans, to stay connected in our communities. It also enable our Legions to continue their role as hubs in our community by hosting senior programming. It further encourages all our SALCs to work with the Legions and organizations that support our veterans, helping to create new partnerships and connections, which further strengthens our province.

Today, we have 316 SALCs, each an important hub which connects seniors in our communities with not only programs and activities that keep them active, fit and engaged, but also which act as conduits to other service providers that deliver the support they need to live independently.

I want to thank all of my colleagues for their ongoing work to honour our veterans and their families. I look forward to hopefully sharing more news in the near future about extra ways that we are supporting organizations that help veterans who are seniors. I have shared how the sacrifice of so many has personally impacted me. Without these Canadians who bravely came to the aid of South Korea, I would likely not be here today. Every day I am reminded of how lucky I am that when the people of Korea asked for help, Canada answered the call.

My experience is only one of countless others. Each of us has been positively touched by the selfless acts of valour of our veterans. We are honoured by the action of these brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to defend democracy and the ideals of human rights. We are honoured by the families of our veterans who have also endured hardships on behalf of the ethic that all people, everywhere in the world, should be able to enjoy the freedoms which Canadians have here. We continue to be honoured by those who wear the uniform today and by their families.

While aggressors around the world still seek to impose their will on others, our military stands tall in the defence of democracy and human rights.

To each of them—all of those who have served, those who serve today and to their families—I say from the bottom of my heart: Thank you, and may God bless you.

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Do we have questions for the speakers?

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens:

Schedule 4 of this bill introduces an amendment to the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020, adding in a paragraph about a new objective for the commission, which would be to assist the minister in promoting the financial program. We all in this House know how important it is to get the word out for individuals that desperately need this aid. Absolutely, we as policy-makers for this province should be promoting offering this benefit to veterans and families—it is a definite must. However, this bill does not clearly define how exactly the commission will assist.

My question is this: Can this government clarify to the individuals watching today—the new and old veterans that are listening today—if they will be taking funds from the commission’s annual budget that is allocated for veterans and using these funds for advertising purposes?

Hon. Graham McGregor: I thank my colleague for the question; it’s an important one.

We know when we design programs like these, the intention of government is to make sure that these programs make it into the community, actually make it to the people that need them. One of the changes we made in this bill, which I hope the members will support, is increasing the amount from $2,000 to $3,000. We think, at a time of high inflation, with the cost-of-living crisis being the way it is, getting that extra bit of money into our veterans’ pockets is simply the right thing to do.

We’ve also put forward measures to make sure that it’s easier to access before—well, as it stands now, I guess, and hopefully the bill passes, they have to exhaust all options. Now we’re proposing to change it so they only have to seek federal veterans’ aid funding to make it easier. Certainly, we can do a better job promoting the program.

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

Mr. Lorne Coe: To the minister: At its core, this particular legislation before us this morning and later this week is reflective of a consultation that included the Ontario Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, True Patriot Love, Wounded Warriors Canada—just a few of the examples of the organizations that informed the intent and purpose of this legislation. I’d like the minister to talk a little bit about that consultation and how it shaped this legislation this morning.

Hon. Graham McGregor: I thank my colleague from Whitby not only for that question but for his unwavering support for veterans living in the Durham region throughout his entire political career and public life.

Applause.

Hon. Graham McGregor: Yes, give it up for the member for Whitby, guys. Come on.

I’d also like to acknowledge two other colleagues that were pivotal in putting this bill together. Of course, I am the Acting Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, but our existing minister, who’s on a leave of absence—we hope to have him back very soon—engaged in extensive consultations, as well as the member for Thornhill in her role as the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. She’s actually doing that announcement with the minister, or just did that announcement this morning, about our changes to the Soldiers’ Aid Commission.

Politics is a team sport. We’ve been acting as a team here in the PC government. We hope members of the opposition also join our team and pass this bill as quickly as possible.

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

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Wow. Team sport. You didn’t answer my first question, but that’s okay. Working as a team sport would have been including the opposition so we could work together on this.

This bill outlines many suggestions for honouring our veterans, which is wonderful, whether through visiting a war memorial or taking

part in Remembrance Day services on November 11. We just heard from the minister recommending everyone visit their Legions on Remembrance Day and make efforts to partake in local ceremonies at your cenotaph. However, there’s quite a barrier that prevents most people from being able to do that.

My question is to the minister or the associate minister. Does this government have plans to make Remembrance Day a paid statutory holiday, so veterans, veterans’ children and all Ontarians, their families, students and children can attend local ceremonies and pay their proper respects and honour their services, honour their parents’ services, honour their family members’ services and honour their neighbours’ services?

Hon. Graham McGregor: Look, when we engage with Legions and with other veterans’ organizations, that’s not what came up. What did come up was seeking more recognition from the Ontario government for the service of their members, not only when they’re in active service, but also for their service when they came home to Ontario and continued to serve their community. That’s why the award that we’re putting forward, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion, the Ontario Command division, is specifically going to be looking at honouring veterans, working with local Legions to honour veterans for community service that they gave for Ontario when they came home.

We, rightfully, always need to honour and acknowledge our veterans for their service while they’re in active service, but I would humbly submit that the government and us as a society, we don’t always do the best job of making sure we remember them when they’re here. This award will help us do that, and we certainly hope the opposition puts partisan politics aside and supports the bill. Let’s do the right thing and stand up for our veterans.

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

Mr. Lorne Coe: Speaker, through you to the minister, on the award, which is being developed in collaboration with the Ontario Command, can you speak a little bit, please, to the criteria that’s going to be used to evaluate the contributions of veterans for this new award, please?

Hon. Graham McGregor: Thank you to the member for Whitby for that question. Gosh, I wish I had more detail, but part of what we’re doing with this bill is giving ourselves the legislative authority to put the award together. We want to make sure that we’re working with our local Legions—with the Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command, but also with the local Legions—to see exactly how we can put this award together for the maximum effect.

It’s an important honour that we need to bestow on a group of people that we owe a lot to, quite frankly. We know we can never thank veterans enough for their service, for what they did for our country. We can sure as heck try. When we’re putting forward this award, we’ll be engaging in consultation over the coming year to make sure that we get it right. It’s something that we have to get right. It’s something that they deserve. It’s something that myself, and I know the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism as well, takes very seriously. We’re going to get it done.

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

Miss Monique Taylor: Thanks to the minister and the members opposite who have spoken about this bill today, about the new bill, about the new incentives. I’ve looked through the public announcement as what has come through so far. I’m looking forward to looking at the bill deeper, because there are many things in our communities that veterans need. So I see that extra money going to them will be beneficial, for sure.

But one of the basics that veterans need so greatly—particularly, I’ll speak for my own community—is housing. We have over 97—and that’s my last count a couple of years back—identified veterans who are homeless and living rough on our streets in the city of Hamilton. This $3,000 a year is just absolutely not going to cut it for those veterans. So can we have the government’s commitment to ensure that no veteran has to live on the street and that they do have the proper supports and housing that are absolutely necessary to putting them back in the community?

Hon. Graham McGregor: Thanks to the member opposite for the question. It’s a good chance for me to talk about a little bit of the great work that our government House leader did during his time as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. I know some of the members—he did some things that were maybe not popular with the members opposite. But I think a really good thing we can all acknowledge that he did, that they should even acknowledge that he did, is making sure that we got shovels in the ground for Homes for Heroes in Kingston, to make sure that we’re supporting transitional housing for veterans.

I just want to shout-out the government House leader for that. I know he took the bull by the horns and made sure that that happened.

Part of the bill is also acknowledging—and part of our suite of initiatives is having our current Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing look at more opportunities for municipalities to make sure we get the housing part right. I’ll also say that part of the bill, the Soldiers’ Aid Commission, is important. The work we’re doing to get skills more readily recognized to provide more opportunities so veterans are able to transition to civilian life is more important. The stolen valour piece is—

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): Thank you. That’s time.

We’re going to move to further debate.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Good morning to all my colleagues today. Good morning, Mom—I know you’re watching. Thank you for all your advice and history of my family in the military.

It is always a distinct honour to stand here in the House as the opposition critic of Legions, veterans and military affairs, a title I want to remind everyone that was created by this opposition because there was a gap. There was a large gap in representation here at a provincial level, and it was noted. Most people know that the federal government and Veterans Affairs Canada is the level that handles concerns and issues affecting veterans across Canada. That’s very true, but at a provincial level, we still have responsibilities to our veterans, young and old, past and present.

I am pleased to talk about this new bill, the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024, and to discuss what this bill entails, what it introduces and what it means for veterans in Ontario. Just yesterday, November 4, we recognized the beginning of Veterans’ Week 2024, which goes until November 11 when we recognize the true sacrifices of our military service members across all of Canada.

The two-minute moment of silence we observe can never truly make up for the lives lost and it can never properly honour the sacrifices of young men and women. But it’s a moment where we bow our heads in solidarity and we bow our heads in reflection—a moment when we collectively stand together from the west coast to the east coast across Canada, all with the same thought and goal in mind.

Before I touch on this new bill, I think it is very important to go back and recount the invaluable and countless contributions that veterans not only made during their physical years of service, but even after they returned home to their communities, to their families and to a new Canada—a country and a province that looked different from when they had left to fight in World War I and World War II.

In World War I and World War II, these veterans were individuals who walked our streets. They left as young boys, often lying about their age—far too young they were. Back to home soil, the motherland, they returned as men—men that had witnessed unspeakable things and now needed to address issues plaguing their community, such as a lack of affordable housing.

Ironically, our veterans are experiencing the exact same thing today, so maybe not much has changed across Canada or in our province. Just yesterday my colleague the member from Ottawa Centre talked about how veterans historically fought for the right to housing right here in Canada. That’s such an important point to raise here.

While we wear our poppies proudly this month, we must make sure that the poppy is not made out to solely be a performative symbol that we are expected to wear during the month of November. So while I wear mine today, let me dig into the history of housing and how the advocacy and the resiliency of generations before us came to provide hundreds of thousands—

The Acting Speaker (M me Lucille Collard): I apologize to the member for interrupting, but it’s 10:15 and we now need to move to members’ statements.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

Members’ Statements

Anniversary of MS Chi-Cheemaun

Mr. Rick Byers: Colleagues, on September 29, my wife Margot and I had the great pleasure of joining a large group of passengers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the MS Chi-Cheemaun, the amazing vessel which runs between Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island.

The Chi-Cheemaun was built in 1973 in the Collingwood shipyard. With a length of 365 feet and beam of 62 feet, it is a big and beautiful ship.

There was a naming contest for the new vessel, with 225 entries submitted. The $100 first prize was won by Donald Keeshig; although it was his daughter Lenore who submitted the entry on his behalf. Chi-Cheemaun is an Ojibway word meaning “big canoe.”

On September 29, 1974, Chi-Cheemaun made its first run from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island, carrying 140 passengers and 60 vehicles. The ship encountered 14-foot waves on the 28-mile journey, but the new vessel made the journey with ease.

Chi-Cheemaun is operated by the Owen Sound Transportation Co. Its

schedule runs from May to October, and it makes three return trips each day.

The 50th anniversary voyage was wonderful, with calm waters and beautiful scenery. Author Richard Thomas, who has written a great history of the Chi-Cheemaun, was guest speaker, and we heard Lenore tell her story of the naming. There was also great music from Moondance. Thank you to all those involved in this great celebration. It was a wonderful tribute.

Colleagues, if you want a great sailing experience, come to Tobermory and ride the Chi-Cheemaun.

Hospital parking fees

MPP Wayne Gates: In Niagara, residents are paying out-of-control rates for parking at our local hospitals. It’s $3 for just a half an hour of parking, and $16 a day. It’s no secret we have an affordability crisis in the province of Ontario. Costs for rent, groceries, gas and much more have skyrocketed over the last few years. We shouldn’t be adding extra costs to people’s lives and forcing families to choose between visiting a loved one at a hospital or making ends meet.

Patients should be focused on getting better. Families should be focused on caregiving and support, and front-line health care workers shouldn’t have to pay to go to work and park. We shouldn’t be charging nurses, doctors, patients and families fees to park at a hospital. I know right here at Queen’s Park, MPPs do not pay for parking. Why should nurses, doctors, front-line workers have to pay to go to work to save lives?

Local hospital systems depend on parking fees for millions of dollars a year, and much of that revenue goes to private companies contracted out for parking services. This government shouldn’t be forcing hospitals to rely on parking fees to pay their bills or to provide care for patients. This government should be funding our public health care system and ensuring patients have the resources they need to provide the best possible care. This government should stop underfunding, provide hospital systems with the funding they need and ensure no one—patients, families, workers alike—has to pay to park at a hospital.

Whitby Health Centre

Mr. Lorne Coe: I had the opportunity last week to open a 154,000-square-foot health and wellness centre in west Whitby. The centre is the most extensive medical group practice in Canada. This innovative facility will provide hard-working families in Whitby with access to urgent care, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, physiotherapy, a pharmacy and psychological support.

The clinic’s central location near the toll-free Highways 412 and 418, situated on land purchased from the Ministry of Transportation—thanks to the Honourable Caroline Mulroney, who was the Minister of Transportation at the time—was strategically chosen to facilitate the provision of medical care by 85 physicians, including specialists and family doctors, to patients across the region of Durham.

Speaker, what’s clear is that our government will leave no stone unturned to improve the quality and access to health care in Whitby and other towns and cities within the region of Durham.

Child and family services

M me France Gélinas: A constituent of mine has been in crisis for five long years. She is a mom who had to quit her job and is completely burnt out trying to care for her 24/7, complex high-needs eight-year-old daughter. Last week, after exhausting every avenue possible, she gave up guardianship of her daughter to the children’s aid. Her family can no longer afford to properly care for her needs.

First, the children’s aid put her daughter in a hotel room in Sudbury. Now she has been moved a five-hour drive away from her family to a foster facility in Mississauga. All of this should and could have been prevented.

In March, I held a press conference in the living room of Tina Senior. Tina had to quit her job as a registered nurse at Health Sciences North to care for her complex medical-needs son, Alex. Before the Ford government came into power, children with high levels of need received help from community-based children’s agencies. Kids received the care and support they needed to achieve their full potential. Now, under this government, parents have to quit their jobs and go deep into debt to access private, for-profit services.

This is not right. This is not my Ontario. These kids, these families need and deserve care in northern Ontario, in Sudbury, where I am. It is very sad to see the damage done by this government to our public, not-for-profit care system and the horrible consequences on special-needs children and their families.

Remembrance Day

Ms. Jess Dixon: Both of my grandfathers saw active service. David Dixon served in the Royal Navy and David Dyke saved in the Royal Canadian Artillery and came under heavy fire at Monte Cassino. When I was younger, I felt like I always heard this poem read at Remembrance Day ceremonies, but it’s been quite a long time since I’ve heard it, so I beg, Speaker, that you indulge me with a couple of extra seconds. The poem Dulce et Decorum Est:

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—

Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams before my helpless sight,

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

That is Wilfred Owen. He died, aged 25, in the trenches, one week before the war ended. His parents received the telegram notifying them of his death as the bells were ringing out on Armistice Day.

Health care

Ms. Chandra Pasma: This government has broken our health care system, and it is regular people who are paying the price. This past weekend, I heard three stories from constituents that highlight the state that our hospitals are in. One of the people I spoke to spent eight hours at the Queensway Carleton emergency department, worried that she was having a heart attack. This woman had had a heart attack before, so in addition to the chest pain, she was dealing with trauma for eight hours. She was freezing, so she asked for a blanket and was told the nurses were so busy that no one had time to grab a blanket for her.

Just imagine what that must have felt like, Speaker: freezing, scared and in pain, and no one has time to help.

Another constituent, a 14-year-old girl, sat in the ER with her mom for seven and a half hours with a concussion and they felt lucky because they were told when they arrived that the wait would be 14 hours.

I also spoke with health care workers at the Queensway Carleton, who told me that their working conditions are absolutely impossible. Patient care aides are only being given three days of training, so there’s high turnover because workers are overwhelmed. Workers are being assigned to areas where they don’t have any training or experience, knowing they can’t spend the time with patients that the patients deserve. And they can’t take vacation time because of the worker shortage, so they never get a break.

Despite all these challenges, there was not a single new investment in hospitals in the government’s fall economic statement. That is an utter dereliction of duty. My constituents deserve better, and the people of Ontario deserve better.

Clarissa Townsend

Mr. Ric Bresee: Today, I rise to recognize an extraordinary individual from our community, nurse practitioner Clarissa Townsend, who recently received the prestigious 2024 nurse practitioners of Ontario Boehringer Ingelheim Award for her outstanding contributions to patient care.

Clarissa is from North Hastings and has dedicated her life to helping others, exemplifying the true spirit of nursing. She has an impressive educational background and has been a beacon of knowledge and care in our health care system. For over 18 years as a nurse practitioner in Bancroft and now at the Kawartha Cardiology Clinic, Clarissa has developed and implemented innovative programs to optimize the treatment of patients with heart failure, hypertension and diabetes. Her commitment to improving patient outcomes through education and self-directed care has made a significant impact on the lives of so very many.

Clarissa’s recognition is not just a personal achievement, it reflects the incredible work of nurse practitioners across Ontario who are leaders in health care. Her humility and her dedication to her profession shine through in her statement: “I’m just a person who wants to do good and I ... want to see people cared for.”

I commend Clarissa Townsend for her hard work and determination to be a role model for her daughter and for all young women who aspire to make a difference in their communities.

Le Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans

M. Stephen Blais: J’ai l’honneur de prendre la parole aujourd’hui pour parler d’une organisation francophone extraordinaire dans ma circonscription. Le Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans, ou le MIFO, soutient les francophones de l’est de l’Ontario depuis 40 ans.

MIFO est le plus grand employeur francophone dans l’est de l’Ontario et c’est le plus grand centre culturel de la francophonie canadienne à l’extérieur du Québec. MIFO offre des services éducatifs, la garde d’enfants, les arts et la culture, pour les personnes âgées et les personnes avec des besoins spéciaux.

Maintenant, MIFO prévoit de construire une installation sportive ultramoderne pour servir la communauté, un projet qui ajoutera 350 emplois et 13 millions de dollars au PIB chaque année.

MIFO is an organization that promotes francophone culture throughout eastern Ontario, offering educational, cultural, artistic, sports and recreational activities to the largest concentration of francophone minorities in the country outside of Quebec.

It’s hoping to bring a state-of-the-art recreation and sporting facility to serve the francophone community of eastern Ontario. MIFO has recently applied for funding under the community sport and recreation fund. If props were permitted, I’d be throwing a ball across the aisle to the Minister of Sport because, Minister, this will be the easiest touchdown you’ll ever score.

Brampton athletes

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: Today I’m honoured to recognize three remarkable Bramptonians, a part of the Toronto Pearson Airport Running Club, who have achieved extraordinary milestones, showcasing that age and challenges are no barrier to endurance and excellence.

At the ages of 65 and 64, respectively, Mr. Kuldip Grewal and Mr. Harjit Singh have demonstrated unparalleled dedication. Mr. Grewal completed the half Ironman in Welland, Niagara Falls, finishing an impressive journey of two kilometres of swimming in 58 minutes, 90 kilometres of biking in three hours and 47 minutes, and a 21.1-kilometre run in two hours and 53 minutes, for a total time of seven hours and 59 minutes.

Mr. Harjit Singh took on the full Ironman challenge in Sacramento, California, completing a gruelling four-kilometre swim in one hour and 12 minutes, 180 kilometres of biking in eight hours and 39 minutes, and a 42.2-kilometre marathon run in six hours and 11 minutes, for a total time of 16 hours and 43 minutes.

I would also like to highlight Mr. Jasvinder Dhaliwal, who completed the Niagara Falls Marathon on October 27, 2024, with a finish time of four hours, nine minutes and 49 seconds. His dedication and impressive pacing truly reflect his commitment to endurance and athleticism.

These accomplishments by Mr. Grewal, Mr. Harjit Singh and Mr. Dhaliwal are testaments to the power of determination, strength and perseverance. Brampton is incredibly proud of these achievements, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all three on their remarkable journeys.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25

Mr. Ross Romano: This past Friday, November 1, 2024, I had the privilege of being a part of a new phase in the history of Sault Ste. Marie’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25. They needed a new building, and they have found an innovative way to achieve their goal.

Through a unique partnership with a local developer, they were able to demolish their previous facility and build a brand new, nine-storey building, including 108 affordable housing units, a gathering hall, meeting rooms, museum amenities rooms and fully developed grounds. It’s impressive. The state-of-the-art facility is Branch 25’s new home, the place where they will continue to honour and serve our veterans and our community for years to come, while securing a stable source of revenue to offset their operating costs.

We remember the incredible sacrifice our veterans made so we may enjoy our freedom. Our local Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 works tirelessly supporting our local veterans and ensuring that we never forget.

I want to thank our local Branch 25 on their new home, and I want to thank them again for the incredible work they do supporting our community.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today a very special guest, who is the consul general of the Federative Republic of Brazil in Toronto, Mr. Enio Cordeiro. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guest to the Legislature today.

Mr. John Vanthof: I would like to welcome the members of the Ontario Dairy Council here today. Farmers make the milk, but the dairy processors are the people who make the great products out of that milk, and we wish them well here today at Queen’s Park.

Hon. Rob Flack: To echo the honourable colleague opposite, I want to recognize the Ontario Dairy Council here today: Mr. Gilles Froment, Ed Perugini, Sarab Hans, Kristine Hayes, Brian Kerr, Éric Lafontaine, Maria Prado, Stephen Quickert, Hans Sommer, Marie Ly, Julie Paquin, Richard Sanchez, Kiran Mann, Christina Lewis and Valerie Smith. Welcome to Queen’s Park and we’ll see you at lunch. Well done.

M me France Gélinas: I would like to welcome all of the members from the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario who are at Queen’s Park today: the executive director, Dr. Michelle Acorn; Amanda Rainville, from my riding, who lives in Capreol; as well as Jessica Romeo; Jodi Colwill; Valerie Winberg; and many more. Thank you for coming to Queen’s Park. We appreciate your hard work.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: On behalf of the entire Progressive Conservative caucus, I would like to welcome the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario here to Queen’s Park ahead of Nurse Practitioner Week. Let’s take an opportunity to celebrate their dedication and hard work. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Mr. Joel Harden: I want to join members who have welcomed nurse practitioners to their House. Thank you for what you do. In particular—I see you up there, Colene—PeerWorks, who are here about peer support for folks struggling with addictions and mental health. Colene touched my heart this morning. Thank you for the work that you do, giving people hope and opportunity. I appreciate it.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: I too would like to welcome the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario. Thank you for all you do to keep Ontarians healthy. God knows we need you right now. But in particular, clever Kevin Zizzo, cool Krystal Fox and joyful Gillian Elms. Thank you. Enjoy your day.

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: Especially as we have Crime Prevention Week this week, I want to welcome: Roger Wilkie, deputy chief of Halton Regional Police Service and president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and his executive officer Tammy here; Lisa Darling, the executive director of the Ontario Association of Police Service Boards; and acting superintendent Anthony Paoletta from the Toronto Police Service. Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

MPP Lise Vaugeois: I would also like to welcome the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario, in particular Barbara Bailey, Michelle Acorn and Marie Greer-King, who will be meeting with me later today. I’m looking forward to that very much. Welcome to your House.

Hon. Trevor Jones: It’s my pleasure to welcome [ inaudible ] Paightyn Armstrong who studies political science at McMaster University, and her friend Tori Harling, who studies political science at U of T. Have a great day, ladies.

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: It’s my honour to welcome the Economic Developers Council of Ontario, who are hosting a reception in the dining room at 5 o’clock. In particular, I’m looking forward to meeting with Cephas Panschow, Darcy Brooke-Bisschop, Chad Richards, Michael Marini, Paul Pirri, Tyson McMann, Kate Burns Gallagher and John Regan. Welcome to Queen’s Park, and I recommend all members join their reception.

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: I would like to also thank the NPAO for a productive discussion this morning about the four Ds—they will inform me about that later—as well as the Ontario Dairy Council and a school from my riding, Crestwood school, who will be arriving in the gallery shortly. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I’d like to welcome Brian Kerr from—yes, Kawartha Dairy ice cream is in the building. Welcome.

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

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I too would like to welcome the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario, in particular Dr. Michelle Acorn, CEO of NPAO, and the nurse practitioners I met this morning: Noorin Jamal, Stephanie Lawrence and Elizabeth Smith. Thank you for all you do.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: I’m pleased to welcome from my riding of Simcoe North the Georgian Bay District Secondary School grade 10 civics students and grade 11 law class. Also, a big welcome and thank you to all the teachers accompanying the students here today: Tarra Popple, Paula Quinn, Tim Jenkinson, Jessica Carney, Peter McLean, Hailey McClean, Kristy Seca and Rachel McDonald. Thank you all for being here, and enjoy your visit at Queen’s Park.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker.

Remarks in Anishininiimowin.

Good morning. I would like to welcome Mitch Simmons and Laura Blair, who are here with the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Board of Education, also known as KOBE. KOBE coordinates the educational programming for the First Nations served by the Keewaytinook Okimakanak chiefs’ council. Keewaytinook Okimakanak means “northern chiefs” in Anishininiimowin. Meegwetch for coming to Queen’s Park, and thank you for your work.

Mrs. Karen McCrimmon: I too would like to welcome the members of the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario, and in particular, Jodi Colwill, Valerie Winberg and Jessica Romeo, whom I’m meeting with later today. Thank you for everything you do.

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: I just want to give a big welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor, who are the parents of Samika Kapoor, one of our pages who have been working this session.

MPP Jill Andrew: Good morning, Speaker. I too would like to welcome Dr. Michelle Acorn, CEO of the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario, and all the nurse practitioners here today.

And I want to take an opportunity, because I didn’t get a chance yesterday, to welcome and thank the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario, who we met with yesterday: Kiki Cekota, Adele Yamba and Kristel Flores. Thank you to all our front-line health care workers for the invaluable work you do every single day.

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: I’d like to welcome the team from PeerWorks who were here this morning for their advocacy day, including president Andrea Schaefer and operations director Allyson Theodorou. Thank you for everything that you do to support the work of our peer workers in the province of Ontario. Thank you for being in your House this morning.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: It’s my honour to also stand in this House to welcome PeerWorks, Ontario’s only province-wide voice for lived experience and peer support. They represent 50 different community-based organizations, who are all doing the very best they can to advance the work around consumer survivor initiatives.

This morning I had the distinct pleasure of welcoming to my office Susan Dobson, who is the executive director of Krasman Centre—their organization serves York region, Toronto and Simcoe county—and Elizabeth Tremblay, Peer House Toronto coordinator, doing exceptional work in our great city; and of course Melody Li, the executive director and founder of Homeless Connect, a dear friend and an advocate for those who are under-housed.

I also want to extend my welcome to the nurse practitioners of Ontario, led by Nathan Bains, who has so graciously coordinated a meeting with my office this afternoon, as well as the Economic Developers Council of Ontario and Stephanie Crilly. Thank you for all your administrative support there.

Mr. Deepak Anand: Speaker, it’s always a pleasure to welcome a family member. I’d like to welcome Kiran Mann, CEO of OIC Foods, from my Mississauga–Malton family. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: I too want to extend a welcome today to nurse practitioners Marcella, Debbie and Erin, who came to meet with me this morning. Thank you very much for coming and welcome to your House.

As well, Ontario Dairy Council members Stephen, Kristine, Ed and Maria, whom I met with this morning: Stephen is the owner of Reid’s Dairy in Belleville, one of our great dairy processors, an absolute staple when you come to town. Ed is the CFO of Lactalis, which operates Black Diamond in our area. Thank you so much for coming—a pleasure to meet with you this morning.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: I would like to recognize today our page captain Kellen who comes from Essex county, and also recognize his mother Tammy and sister Kalila who are visiting us today from Essex county. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: I’d like to also welcome the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario. I’m looking forward to meeting with Beth Cowper-Fung, Chantal Sorhaindo and Kelly Kokos. I also want to send a warm thank you to nurse practitioners Kevin and Erin and CEO Dr. Michelle Acorn for a wonderful discussion this morning.

Mr. Lorne Coe: I’d like to welcome Christie White to Queen’s Park. Christie joined my staff as an executive assistant in the Premier’s office.

M. Stéphane Sarrazin: Je voulais souhaiter la bienvenue à M. Éric Lafontaine, qui est le directeur général de la fromagerie St-Albert dans ma circonscription, une fromagerie qui est connue à travers la province. Donc, il est ici aujourd’hui avec ses collègues, les producteurs laitiers de la province. J’ai bien hâte de jaser avec eux, puis de les rencontrer ce midi. Bienvenue à Queen’s Park.

Question Period

Affordable housing

Ms. Marit Stiles: This question is for the Premier. Housing starts are down. Targets are, apparently, out of reach for this government and the crisis is getting worse than ever.

We did what the government won’t do. We put a real housing plan on the table, a plan that would double the supply of permanently affordable homes by working with non-market providers. Instead of supporting our motion and rolling up their sleeves and taking an all-hands-on-deck approach, this government said no.

So, Speaker, why is it that when it comes to lobbyists and insiders and Conservative donors, the answer is always yes, but when it comes to the basic needs of Ontarians, this Premier always says no?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: What we voted against yesterday was a tired old plan that failed and continues to fail the people of the province of Ontario. This is something that the NDP tried when they were in government between 1990 and 1995, which was a spectacular failure, Mr. Speaker.

To make matters even worse, it is very similar to a plan that the federal Liberals have in place. It is about ideology and talking about housing, but not actually getting shovels in the ground. If the NDP and the Liberals spent some time actually contemplating the issue, as opposed to writing about it and talking about it, they would know that we have introduced a new provincial planning statement, which is housing-positive, which unleashes housing along our transit routes, in co-operation with the Minister of Infrastructure, who is bringing forward transit-oriented communities.

But what it really reflects on, Mr. Speaker, is the fact that interest rates increased so quickly, so fast, because of the high-inflation policies of the federal Liberal and NDP government. That is what has caused a pause in what was a record-setting pace of building homes across the province of Ontario.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Talk about ideology, right?

Here’s what happens in Ontario today: The Premier cuts deals, insiders cash in and regular Ontarians pay the price—every single time.

There’s always time and money for schemes like a $100-billion tunnel to nowhere and luxury spas in downtown Toronto, but investing in housing that people can actually afford—they can’t even imagine it. Is it any surprise that Ontarians can’t find affordable housing today? It’s not being built. Sitting back and waiting for the homes to magically appear is not working.

So is this Premier just waiting for a miracle? Why won’t you consider public investment to make up the difference? Where do they think that homes are going to come from?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Listen, I watched the Leader of the Opposition’s press conference with respect to her policy. She was asked three times what the policy would cost, and three times she avoided the answer because she didn’t know.

It reminds me of their election platform. Remember their last election platform? They had this massive hole in spending. I think it was—

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: It was $7 billion.

Hon. Paul Calandra: It was $7 billion, Mr. Speaker. That’s Liberal and NDP math, right? What they are contemplating is, by our calculations, an over $150-billion program that will create literally no homes.

Instead, what we’re doing is we’re building infrastructure so that we can unleash not hundreds of homes, not thousands of homes, but millions of homes for the people of the province of Ontario.

We invest over $1.2 billion a year across the province of Ontario in subsidized housing. We’ve removed development charges on affordable housing. I’ll remind the Leader of the Opposition that she and her party voted against that. That policy unleashed hundreds of thousands of—

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

The final supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: I don’t know what this minister and this government expect. Do they think people are going to live in the tunnel? I mean, come on. Where are the homes? Where are they? You’re not building them. People can’t afford them anymore.

Two and a half years ago, the government’s own Housing Affordability Task Force laid it all out. They said to build 1.5 million homes. We need fourplexes, we need density near transit, we need non-market housing. But since then, what have we got? Scandals, excuses, wasted time, wasted money.

Even with all of their attempts to pad the numbers for housing counts, this government is nowhere near close enough, and all you have to do is read their fall economic statement. People in Ontario cannot afford to wait any longer. They cannot afford this Conservative government any longer.

If the Premier can’t get the job done, isn’t it time he got out of the way and let those of us who actually have a housing plan get it built?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Speaker, look, if the Leader of the Opposition wants to go to the people of the province of Ontario and ask them for a mandate, I welcome it, because I will put the record of this government on the table any day.

We were building homes at a record pace across the province of Ontario; they stood in the way each and every time. While we were bringing automotive investments to the tune of $45 billion, they were voting against it. We were building transit and transportation. They couldn’t get it done; we are building it across the province of Ontario. We’re unleashing opportunity in northern Ontario. We’re connecting the minerals of the north and the wealth of the north to the prosperity and manufacturing might of the south. We’re building our hospitals, we’re educating our students better, we’re balancing the budget, we’re getting the job done.

You want an election? Bring it on. I know the people—

Interjections.

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

I’ll remind the members to make their comments through the Chair.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government side will come to order. The Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development will come order. The Associate Minister of Small Business will come to order. The government House leader will come to order.

Start the clock. The next question.

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Let’s talk about this government’s record, shall we? This question again is going to go to the Premier. One year ago when this government got caught trying to sell off the greenbelt to insiders, they promised to review the Lobbyists Registration Act. That was after the Integrity Commissioner revealed an unregistered lobbyist was handing out Raptors tickets and rounds of golf, and after staffers were found using personal emails to communicate with insiders and lobbyists. Yet, here we are, no review, no accountability and former staffers like Ryan Amato are flat out refusing to comply with FOI requests.

My question again to the Premier: Is flouting integrity rules just business as usual for this government?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To respond, the Attorney General.

Hon. Doug Downey: Mr. Speaker, I’m actually happy for the opportunity to report that we are making progress on the review of the lobbying act. I met with the Integrity Commissioner this summer. We’ve received some of his ideas, we’re waiting on some more, and I hope to close the loop on some of that before he retires.

I have to tell you, he has done an absolutely excellent job and I welcome the opportunity to say thank you to the Integrity Commissioner, Commissioner Wake, for the tremendous work that he has done. He has held up his office to a high standard.

I’ll say more about the review in the second question.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Yes, we also appreciate the Integrity Commissioner; we have kept him quite busy this year with complaints about this government.

The government claims zero tolerance for wrongdoing, yet they haven’t lifted a finger to prevent it from happening again. By law, the Lobbyists Registration Act was actually up for review in 2021—that’s three years ago—but this government blew right past that deadline. Meanwhile, lobbyists and insiders are calling the shots, right? They’re snapping up MZOs, they’re gouging hospitals for private staffing companies and they’re bulldozing Ontario Place for a luxury spa.

My question to the Premier is, when are you going to follow through on tightening the lobbying rules, or are the perks and the massages just too good to pass up?

Hon. Doug Downey: Again, I want to speak more about the review of the lobbying act. While the Leader of the Opposition is tilting at windmills and keeping him busy with frivolous inquiries, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you this: When the review is brought forward, it will last well beyond any of us in this place. It will be a solid piece of reform that will endure and set a standard that is even tighter than what we have. It is a great opportunity to move forward.

I know that she’s bridging over to all sorts of other things that upset her about the progress we’re making in this great province, expanding jobs and investments, and Ontario Place and all of the great things that we’re doing for the people of Ontario. I don’t know if there’s a third question in there or if she’s just going to talk more about the things that upset her, Mr. Speaker.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Yes, great things, Speaker—a million people went to a food bank last year. They’re doing great things.

The government was cautioned repeatedly that bad actors are taking advantage of the system because this government has allowed it to happen. The Conservatives have talked a very big game, saying it would root out the bad actors, the bad actor lobbyists. They said they would introduce new penalties for breaching the act. The Premier even suggested jail time, remember that?

Interjections.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Yes. But they were never serious about strengthening that lobbying act and the integrity laws.

I’m going to make this very simple for the Premier, because he only has two options: Will he protect the public by fixing the Lobbyists Registration Act, or will he continue to protect his lobbyist friends?

Interjections.

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

The member for Brantford–Brant and parliamentary assistant.

Mr. Will Bouma: Speaker, as has been mentioned by the Attorney General, we are following the recommendation from the Auditor General, and we are getting that done. While our government expects all lobbyists to follow the current rules, it is clear that a few bad actors have taken advantage of the system.

Speaker, our government will not tolerate this type of behaviour. While public advocacy plays an important role in our democratic system, it must be done in an ethical and transparent manner. Anyone doing advocacy work with the government must be held to the highest standards. We will not tolerate anyone putting themselves above the trust, transparency and accountability of the people of Ontario. There is no place in Ontario for this government—for bad actors and these practices must be and will be put to an end.

But, Speaker, rather than be distracted by this, we will continue to build Ontario. We will get it done.

Health care

Ms. Marit Stiles: Back to the Premier: Over 2.5 million people in Ontario don’t have access to primary care right now. The current shortage of family doctors means the number of unattached patients is going to double in the next few years. That’s 4.4 million people, or one in four Ontarians, by 2026. Let that sink in.

Nurse practitioners who have joined us in the House today are ready to fill the gap. They are trained to perform absolutely crucial work to address this health care crisis. But your government hasn’t addressed their wages in years, and now that funding gap between nurse practitioners who work in hospitals and nurse practitioners who work in the community and in home care has become an ocean. Why won’t this government pay nurse practitioners what they’re owed, regardless of where they work?

Interjections.

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

The member for Essex and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Let me take an opportunity to praise the nurse practitioners who are here today and across the province of Ontario for their very valuable contribution to the delivery of primary care.

I take particular note that when Liberals and NDPers talk about primary care, they never include in their statistics the contribution that is made by nurse practitioners. But we include them in our statistics. When we deliver primary care in the province of Ontario, we know that approximately 90% of everybody in the province of Ontario has primary care, part of which is delivered by nurse practitioners. We’ve funded the largest expansion of nurse practitioner care in the history of the province of Ontario, and we continue to make progress and do more.

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

M me France Gélinas: Nurse practitioners want to work. They want to help solve the crisis in our health care system, and many of them cannot find a job.

How could it be that with 2.5 million Ontarians without access to primary care, we have underemployed nurse practitioners right here, right now, in Ontario—even in my riding in rural northern Ontario?

Let this sink in: We have nurse practitioners willing and able to care for unattached frail elderly people, kids with complex medical needs—and keep them out of the emergency room, yet this minister refuses to fund them.

If the millions of dollars over three years promised was the solution, those nurse practitioners would not have come from all over Ontario to be here today. What is the minister waiting for?

Interjections.

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

The member for Essex.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Speaker, this government has undertaken the largest expansion of nurse practitioner service in the history of the province of Ontario, and as part of that expansion—let me talk about the Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, which has an additional 1,600 patient spaces. That’s another 1,600 individuals who will get service in and around the area of that nurse practitioner-led clinic. That’s thanks to the grand expansion of those services undertaken by this government.

On this side, we believe in patient-focused, team-based care. We’re going to continue pursuing that. That’s why we have appointed Jane Philpott, a recognized expert in primary care, to help us reach even better goals. Even though we’re reaching approximately 90% of all the residents in the province of Ontario, we want to do better, and we’re going to do better. That’s why we’ve appointed Jane Philpott to assist us in that goal.

Life sciences sector

Ms. Christine Hogarth: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Across the province, we are seeing companies invest, expand and create great-paying jobs. That’s what happens when you cut red tape and ensure the conditions are there for businesses to thrive. It is a direct contrast from the previous Liberal government, who actively implemented policies that they knew would crush businesses and drive workers out of this province.

This is a new era for Ontario. Companies from across the world know that there is no better place to do business and invest than right here in Ontario.

Can the minister please provide this House with an update on new investments and expansions that are happening right now here in Ontario?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Speaker, the economic developers who are here today know that every single night Premier Ford gets his text about yet another company investing in Ontario.

Last week alone, Ontario landed more than $1 billion in private company investments, adding more than 2,300 jobs. Included in that number was Moderna’s expansion in Cambridge. Their multi-million dollar investment allowed them to partner with Novocol Pharma, to add a new fill-finish line for mRNA vaccines. That will create more good-paying jobs in Cambridge and in the surrounding area.

Thanks to the great work from our economic development folks who are here today, we’re seeing more investments flow into the province at an unprecedented rate. That’s why 860,000 jobs were created in Ontario since we were elected.

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

Ms. Christine Hogarth: We’re seeing companies make job-creating investments in every sector of our economy. Communities that the previous Liberal government turned their backs on are seeing their local economies flourish. That’s what happens when you lower the cost of doing business and you get rid of the red tape that the Liberals put up to stifle business investment and job creation.

Our life sciences sector is growing rapidly, and Moderna’s investment is yet another vote of confidence in Ontario, We have everything that the life science companies are looking for right here when they evaluate where they should expand. Most importantly, we are home to the best talent in the world, with over 70,000 STEM students graduating from our top post-secondary institutions each and every year.

Can the minister please highlight any additional life science investments that have landed in this province recently?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Yesterday, we joined Kenvue in Guelph to announce the completion of their multi-million dollar facility expansion. Kenvue is the world’s largest pure play health consumer product company. They make iconic products like Tylenol, Band-Aid, Listerine, Polysporin—all the things that you find in your drawer at home.

They expanded their Guelph facility, bringing the size of their plant to more than 255,000 square feet. That investment will allow them to ramp up their manufacturing capacity. That investment will also add more good-paying jobs to the hundreds of employees that Kenvue already has in Guelph.

Speaker, we’ve landed more than $5 billion in new life science investments, and there’s much, much more to come.

Homelessness

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Premier. Over the past six years, homelessness has surged, and the shelters are full. There are now over 1,400 encampments in Ontario. The Conservatives could take responsibility and invest in affordable housing, but instead they’re blaming everyone else for the problem.

My question is simple: When an encampment is cleared, where exactly do you expect people to go?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I think the member will appreciate that, in her own riding, we have increased funding for the Homelessness Prevention Program by—I think it’s 28% in the member’s own riding. We have a historic investment right now of over $1.2 billion to help us deal with the challenges that have been brought on by a really rapid expanding population in the province of Ontario.

But at the same time, Mr. Speaker, I think the member is correct in one sense: We are investing record amounts in the Homelessness Prevention Program across the province of Ontario—as I said, $1.2 billion. It is our expectation that our municipal partners work with us, that our federal partners work with us, so that we can deal with this challenge head-on because, ultimately, it is the right thing to do to ensure that everybody has a roof over their head and that they have access to the services that they need.

If our partners aren’t going to get the job done, we will step in and make sure that we do get the job done.

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

Ms. Jessica Bell: Back to the Premier: This government has had six years to address the homelessness crisis, and it has never been worse. To end homelessness, people need a permanent, affordable home, but the Conservatives have essentially turned their back on affordable housing and the construction of affordable housing at a time when the government’s own documents show there are 234,000 people facing homelessness.

When are the Conservatives going to take responsibility and address the homelessness crisis?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I’m not sure what the member is talking about. The reality is that we’ve increased funding to $1.2 billion, a record amount of funding in the province of Ontario, to deal with the Homelessness Prevention Program.

I know that the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions is also working on the very real piece that we see often in some of these encampments, the mental health issues and addiction issues. So we’re dealing with that at the same time.

We’re also putting in resources. Look, we were the ones that led the call for the federal government to eliminate the HST on purpose-built rentals. What happened when we saw that happen? We reduced the tax and we saw record amounts of housing being built in the province of Ontario.

When we brought forward a plan to eliminate development charges on affordable housing, that member and that party voted against that initiative.

What we’re going to do is this: We’re going to continue to fund housing across the province of Ontario, but it is our expectation that the funds that we are spending are going to see the results that Ontarians want. If they don’t, we’ll step in and get the job done.

Transportation infrastructure

Mr. Aris Babikian: My question is for the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Transportation. Under the Premier’s leadership, Ontario is a top choice for families and workers to live. People are coming here to build their careers and to start new lives, and that’s something everyone should be proud of.

As more people settle in Ontario, we must ensure that our transportation infrastructure keeps up with that growth. Sadly, the previous Liberal government left our province in a gridlock crisis. Because they failed to act, commuting has become more difficult for everyone. That is why our government must commit to building and expanding our roads, highways and transit systems.

Can the associate minister please outline the steps our government is taking to reduce gridlock and keep Ontario moving forward?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I remind the House that questions should be addressed to ministers, even though parliamentary assistants are permitted to answer.

The member for Hastings–Lennox and Addington and parliamentary assistant.

Mr. Ric Bresee: Thank you to my colleague for the question. Our population is growing; we know that, and we need more infrastructure to support the families moving to our great province. Under this Premier’s leadership, our government is focused on getting people out of gridlock. We have a plan to build new highways and public transit all across Ontario.

We are building historic projects that will support our growing population and make it easier for people to get where they need to go. As part of our plan, we’re building critical projects like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass. We are building the Ontario Line, a brand new subway in the largest city in the country. And for commuters who take the GO train, we’re building new tracks and new stations to prepare for two-way, all-day GO service.

Our government is building for the future. We’re focused on tackling gridlock and keeping this province moving.

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

Mr. Aris Babikian: Bonnie Crombie and the Liberals do not have a transit plan. They keep saying no to investments that will keep our province moving. The NDP are no better. They don’t believe in building new highways. They vote against funding more transit. They said no to the Ontario Line subway, and they voted against funding two-way, all-day GO train service.

We are the only ones, under the leadership of Premier Ford, with a plan to improve Ontario’s transportation network. Can the parliamentary assistant please outline the progress our government is making to tackle gridlock?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Once again, I’ll remind the members to address their questions to ministers.

The member for Hastings–Lennox and Addington and parliamentary assistant to reply.

Mr. Ric Bresee: Thank you to the member from Scarborough–Agincourt.

You’re absolutely right. It’s true: The Liberals and the NDP simply don’t have a serious plan to tackle gridlock. What are their solutions? They want to remove car lanes to add more bike lanes on our busiest roads. They want to tear down highways like the Gardiner Expressway. The NDP want to use your money to give private trucking companies free tolls on the 407.

We believe in building new infrastructure, such as the toll-free Highway 413 and the electric two-way, all-day GO service. Unlike the Liberals and the NDP, we actually have a serious plan to address gridlock. Our government will get Ontarians moving and keep Ontarians moving.

Health care

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My question is to the Premier. Recently, I met Carolynne, a 79-year-old woman living in my community. She was diagnosed with a stage 4 single prolapsed bladder three years ago and is still waiting for critical surgery. While waiting to see specialists and for surgery, her condition has worsened to a double prolapse, greatly impacting her quality of life. She’s forced to spend up to $180 on incontinence products out of her limited budget.

Carolynne’s story is heartbreaking, but not shocking to anyone anymore under this government, who’s only in it for themselves.

Minister, what will this government do to help Carolynne get the surgery she needs and end her suffering?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Essex and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Speaker, the province of Ontario has a health care budget. In 2018, that health care budget stood at $60 billion. Today, the same health care budget stands at $85 billion, for a $25-billion increase, which is a 41% increase over the same period of time. At the same time, the province of Ontario has the number one best surgical times in the entire country, better than any other province—better than British Columbia, better than Saskatchewan, better than New Brunswick.

But we can always do better, and we will always seek to do better. We are expanding the community health clinics and the community health surgical centres to give more surgeries and faster surgeries in the province of Ontario. Of course, we know the NDP don’t support that plan, but we’re going to go ahead with it.

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

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Carolynne cannot wait on empty promises. She lives in constant discomfort and pain, and is suffering mentally from an indignity that comes with a sensitive condition. She has been told it could take still up to another two years before she gets surgery. She was brave enough to come forward and share her story. Can the minister promise Carolynne she can get her surgery before her 80th birthday?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Any person in that situation—including that dear constituent—who needs to get that health care should get that health care.

I want to point out that we’re providing better health care in the province of Ontario through increasing surgical activities and surgical opportunities through the surgical clinics that are being set up by an expansion that was undertaken by this government. We know that the opposition didn’t support that expansion, but we need that expansion to help constituents such as that dear lady who needs her surgery.

In Ontario, surgical times are faster than anywhere else in the entire country. We’re doing better than every other province, but we always seek to do better and better so that we can help every constituent, including that dear lady, get their surgery. That’s why we’ve undertaken an expansion of the surgical clinics, which will offer a better experience and faster experience in the province of Ontario.

Health care

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. While this Premier is busy distracting the public with booze, bike lanes and subterranean passages, 2.5 million Ontarians are being hung out to dry without family doctors. In his own riding of Etobicoke North, 32,000 people have no family doctor—no one to go to who knows their medical history and no one to go to when they are at their most vulnerable state—thanks to this government.

Jennifer, one of my residents, is losing her family doctor after three decades. As a senior, she is worried about being without a family physician who knows her diagnoses. Unfortunately for Jennifer and the other 2.5 million Ontarians without family doctors, this government is failing to retain and recruit health care professionals.

My question to the Premier: What are you saying to your 32,000 residents when they come to you asking for help to get a family doctor?

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

The member for Essex and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: I feel for Jennifer, because Jennifer needs primary care, just like everybody else in the province of Ontario. I feel for Jennifer especially since the Liberal Party reduced the number of doctors being trained in Ontario when they formed the Liberal government.

But we’re not going to do what the Liberals did. We’re not going to reduce the number of doctors being trained in the province of Ontario. In fact, we’re training more doctors, not only in southern Ontario but also in northern Ontario as well. We’re training more doctors than the Liberals ever trained. We’re going to make up for their mistakes, we’re going to make up for their failures, and we’re going to—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Don Valley East will come to order. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing will come to order. The member for Ottawa South will come to order.

Interjections.

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

Perhaps I need to speak more loudly. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing will come to order. The Minister of Natural Resources will come to order. The member for Don Valley East will come to order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Okay. If you repeatedly ignore the requests of the Speaker to come to order, you will be warned, and the next stage, of course, is an early exit for the day, in case we’ve forgotten.

Start the clock. The supplementary question?

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: I hope the 13,000 lovely people in Essex who are without family doctors get help from this member.

In my riding of beautiful Beaches–East York, there are 23,000 people without a family doctor. I’m embarrassed that this government has done nothing to fix it in the past six years. My staff work hard to help the residents find physicians in our riding who are accepting patients. They call local clinics. They try to connect our constituents with the doctors. It’s not easy.

Meanwhile, this government created a digital map to help Ontarians find beer and wine in the area—talk about skewed priorities. The 32,000 people in the Premier’s riding of Etobicoke North need basic health care, not a six-pack. The 23,000 people in my riding of Beaches–East York need a trusted family physician, not a box of wine.

So my question to the mayor—sorry, I mean Premier—

Interjections.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Sorry. My mistake—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Please let the member pose her question.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: I’m sorry.

My question to the Premier is, when will the 2.5 million Ontarians without a family doctor finally get one?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Mr. Speaker, the Liberal member who just spoke has illustrated my point perfectly. I stated previously that when the Liberals calculate their statistics, they always talk about family doctors and they never include nurse practitioners.

Nurse practitioners deliver primary care. Nurse practitioners deliver patient-focused care. Nurse practitioners believe in the team-based strategy. But that member, three times, referred to primary care and doctors and never once mentioned nurse practitioners.

We believe in nurse practitioners. This party believes in nurse practitioners. Liberals do not believe in nurse practitioners. Maybe they should start believing in nurse practitioners.

Taxation

Mr. Steve Pinsonneault: My question is for the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. The people of Ontario know that our farmers are the backbone of this community. They work hard day in and day out to put food on our table. But right now, they’re facing one of the toughest challenges yet. The Trudeau-Crombie carbon tax is pushing them to the financial brink and making it harder for them just to compete. It’s driving up feed, fuel and fertilizer costs for their farm operations.

Farmers across our province, especially in my riding, need to know that our government stands with them against this unfair and regressive tax. Can the minister share what concerns he has heard from farmers about the harmful impact of the Trudeau-Crombie carbon tax on their operations?

Hon. Rob Flack: Thank you to the member opposite from Lambton–Kent–Middlesex. He’s doing a great job. He is a great neighbour, representing farmers very, very well. Thank you, sir.

Earlier this year, 25 leading agri-food agribusinesses and farmers sent a letter to the federal government asking them to scrap the tax. Sadly, it went unresponded to and ignored. I want the House to hear some examples.

The Grain Farmers of Ontario have described this tax as “unbearable,” estimating it will cost their members $2.7 billion by 2030.

John de Bruyn, past chair of Ontario Pork, has said that it makes their sector less competitive in the global markets that they compete in.

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetables Growers’ Association says that it cost their members $16 million last year alone.

Sadly, the carbon tax coalition opposite continues to support it. It’s punitive, it hurts our farmers, it hurts our food processors, it raises the price of groceries. Scrap the tax.

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

Mr. Steve Pinsonneault: Ontario farmers are facing tough economic times. Soaring costs are hitting them hard, from fuel to farm equipment and all the essentials needed to keep their operations running. The Trudeau-Crombie carbon tax is making everything worse, adding costs every step of the way. Farmers have told us that this tax is making it harder and more expensive for them to do what they do best: feed Ontario.

With everything going up, they’re being forced to pass those costs on down to the consumers. The price of the tax isn’t just felt on the farm, it is felt on every family’s dinner table as well. But we know our government is stepping up to help.

Can the minister please explain how our government continues to stand up with our farmers and is providing them with help that they need?

Hon. Rob Flack: Simply put, we’re creating the environment for our farmers and food processors to succeed. What have we done to create this environment, you ask? We’ve lowered taxes and WSIB premiums. We raised the Risk Management Program from $100 million to $150 million. We secured $569 million through SCAP. We raised the feeder cattle loan program from $260 million to $500 million. We continue to pave the way to help our farmers and food processors succeed.

What do the members opposite do? They support a carbon tax. It’s punitive. If they really want to help the program, if they want to help our farmers and food processors, get on board and get away from this tax. From the farm gate to the consumers’ plate, axe this tax and axe it now.

Northern police services

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker.

Remarks in Anishininiimowin.

This government isn’t in it for the municipalities in northern Ontario. In northwestern Ontario, Red Lake, Dryden, Kenora, Ear Falls, Machin, Ignace and Pickle Lake all saw substantial rises in OPP costs. Pickle Lake’s 315% increase amounts to $668 per property this year.

Northern municipalities are sounding the alarm bells at the skyrocketing price of policing. Will this government provide them the cost relief they are asking for?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Solicitor General.

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: I appreciate the question. The provincial government, our government led by Premier Ford, takes public safety very seriously all across Ontario. We are lucky to have the Ontario Provincial Police that, for so long, has taken care of public safety for approximately 75% of the land area of Ontario. They received two million calls last year and responded to over 1.2 million calls.

We’re never going to not listen to our municipalities. We are always going to listen to them wherever they are in Ontario. I have been in discussions throughout AMO and presently with municipalities to make sure that their concerns are heard.

Again, at the end of the day, public safety is a priority for this government, and we will continue to listen to municipalities wherever they are in Ontario.

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

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Northern municipalities are already facing housing crises, mental health crises, health care crises, and budgets are tight. They are warning that the result of increased policing costs will be cuts to other services and increases in taxes.

Will this government listen to towns and help with the costs of policing so municipalities can keep their services and avoid extra tax increases?

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: I think the Premier has been very clear. We’re going to continue to dialogue and to engage and to listen to the concerns of the municipalities.

At the end of the day, people who serve in the OPP also deserve to be paid a fair wage. Police officers across Ontario deserve to be paid fair wages—and we have here the president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

We dialogue with organizations all the time. We will listen to our municipalities. We will continue to engage with them. We will be there for them. We will leave no one behind. And we will always prioritize, with a laser-focused approach, public safety throughout our province.

Transportation infrastructure

Mr. Michael Mantha: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Over the summer, residents of Manitoulin Island were left stranded for long periods because of mechanical failures on the Little Current Swing Bridge. This happened several times over the summer, with no notice and with little to no explanation from the ministry about what caused these delays. And there have been ongoing closures for maintenance and repairs.

In this year’s budget, the Minister of Finance specifically highlighted replacing the swing bridge as part of their plan. However, over a year later, we still have no idea how much the government is going to spend, the timeline for the project, or even when we’ll get shovels in the ground. The swing bridge is the only year-round access point to Manitoulin Island.

Minister, will you tell the people of Manitoulin when the new swi