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September 25, 2023

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2023-Sept-25 vol. A (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 25 September 2023 Lundi 25 septembre 2023

Resignation of member for Kitchener Centre

Tabling of sessional papers

Table Clerks

Members’ Statements

Government’s record

Greenbelt

Ontario Closed Circuit Television Grant

Farmers

Government investments

School transportation

Municipal planning

Bail reform

Aralyn Smith / Natalie Dodd / Ella Shelton

Introduction of Visitors

Introduction of member for Scarborough–Guildwood / Introduction of member for Kanata–Carleton

Independent members

Question Period

Government accountability

Government accountability

Land use planning

Economic development

Health care

Northern Ontario development

School transportation

Government accountability

Long-term care

Housing

Student safety

Women’s employment

Road safety

Mental health and addiction services

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

Standing Committee on the Interior

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

Standing Committee on the Interior

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Introduction of Government Bills

Transportation for the Future Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 pour un réseau de transport orienté vers l’avenir

Introduction of Bills

An Act to reverse changes to the Greenbelt

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Jour des Franco-Ontariens et des Franco-Ontariennes / Franco-Ontarian Day

Motions

House sittings

Petitions

School closures

Labour legislation

School boards

Tenant protection

Labour legislation

Health care

Orders of the Day

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

The House met at 1015.

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

Prières / Prayers.

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

This being the first sitting Monday of the month, I ask everyone to remain standing and join in the singing of the Canadian national anthem, followed by the royal anthem.

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

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

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

Resignation of member for Kitchener Centre

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I beg to inform the House that, during the adjournment, a vacancy occurred in the membership of the House by reason of the resignation of Laura Mae Lindo as the member for the electoral district of Kitchener Centre, effective July 13, 2023. Accordingly, I have issued my warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for a by-election.

Tabling of sessional papers

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I beg to inform the House that during the adjournment the following documents were tabled:

—a report entitled Economic and Budget Outlook, Spring 2023, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario;

—a report entitled What Gets Measured Gets Managed: Ministries’ Performance Measurement, Program Evaluation and Annual Reporting, from the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario;

—the 2022-23 annual report from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario;

—the annual report of the review of expense claims covering the period April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, pursuant to the Cabinet Ministers’ and Opposition Leaders’ Expenses Review and Accountability Act, 2002, from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario;

—the 2022-23 annual report from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario;

—a report entitled Expenditure Monitor 2022-23: Q4, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario;

—a Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt, from the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario;

—a report concerning the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario;

—a report entitled Lessons for the Long Term: Investigation into the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s Oversight of Long-Term Care Homes through Inspection and Enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario; and

—the final report concerning the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario.

Table Clerks

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’d like to advise the House of some changes at the Table. I’m pleased to announce that, effective July 4, 2023, Valerie Quioc Lim has been appointed Deputy Clerk and executive director of the legislative services division.

Additionally, effective September 5, 2023, Meghan Stenson has assumed the role of Clerk of Procedural Services.

Please join me in congratulating Valerie and Meghan in their new roles and responsibilities.

Members’ Statements

Government’s record

Mr. Matthew Rae: Thank you, Speaker, and welcome back to the Legislature. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to announce a plethora of investments that our government is making in my riding of Perth–Wellington:

—$200,000 for local seniors programming;

—$300,000 for palliative care;

—$6.6 million for local hospital capital funding;

—$3.4 million for local ERs and hospital bed capacity;

—$188,000 for local events and festivals; and

—$400,000 for our local police services.

This is all great news, but there is more. Since 2018, our government has secured $25 billion in auto and EV investments and $3 billion in life science investments. There have been 700,000 new jobs created, including 40,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector. In the skilled trades, apprenticeships are up 24%. Our students are entering the health care sector in droves. Over 4,300 students have registered in the Learn and Stay program.

Our government continues to make historic investments in health care. We are increasing land ambulance funding by 6% for our municipalities, to $811 million in total. We are investing an additional $51 million in the Dedicated Offload Nurses Program.

Our government will continue to focus on building a strong Ontario. When will the opposition get on board?

Greenbelt

Ms. Doly Begum: Good morning, everyone. I rise today to celebrate a momentous victory for the people of Ontario. Over the past weekend, my office organized a community call to action for the greenbelt, which turned into a beautiful celebration. This journey has been marked by grassroots organizing, passionate protests, petitioning, persistent questioning and thorough investigation. It has demonstrated the power of citizen engagement and an unwavering commitment to protect something so precious to us Ontarians.

I’m immensely proud of the tireless efforts of the countless individuals across the province who courageously stood up against the corruption that threatened our cherished greenbelt. This victory is a testament to the collective will of Ontarians who refused to back down.

It is also crucial to emphasize that the greenbelt land swap was never about solving the housing crisis. Instead, it exposed a lack of genuine commitment to addressing the pressing issues faced by Ontarians.

I want to extend my gratitude to the leader of Ontario’s New Democrats, Marit Stiles, for her leadership and unwavering dedication to the cause and for calling for an independent investigation that uncovered the dishonesty and mockery perpetuated by Premier Ford’s government.

I also commend the talented journalists who played—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask the member to withdraw the unparliamentary comments.

Ms. Doly Begum: I withdraw.

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

Ms. Doly Begum: I also want to commend the talented journalists who played a vital role in this fight.

Ontario Closed Circuit Television Grant

Mr. Lorne Coe: The government has provided the Durham Regional Police Service with $200,000 to expand its video surveillance program to better protect communities like Whitby and other parts of the region from gun and gang violence.

The funding, through the Ontario Closed Circuit Television Grant program, can be used to replace outdated equipment, expand or enhance current technology, and install new or additional CCTV surveillance cameras in areas where gun and gang violence, illegal drug activity and human trafficking are prevalent.

Speaker, the Durham force is one of 24 police services across the province receiving funding, with more than $2.8 million being allocated. Durham police service chief Peter Moreira had this to say about the grant, “We value the continued support and investments in the CCTV program. We have already seen the benefit of these cameras as both a deterrent and a crucial investigative tool in solving crime and addressing gun and gang violence.”

Together with the Durham Regional Police Service, our government stands resolute in our fight against gun and gang violence, illegal drug activity and human trafficking, ensuring a safer and more secure future for all residents in the region of Durham.

Farmers

Mr. Jeff Burch: Over the summer, I had the opportunity to visit and speak with many of the hard-working farmers across Niagara. They grow a wide variety of strawberries, grapes, cherries, peaches, apples, and much more.

However, they conveyed to me their deep concern for the future of this province’s food security as Ontario loses 319 acres of farmland per day. From MZOs to planned highway expansions and greenbelt flip-flops, farmers’ confidence in this government having their backs and protecting their land has been shattered. The farmers’ right to farm is being put at risk.

Over 861,000 jobs in this province are dependant on the agri-food sector, which currently contributes over $47 billion to Ontario’s GDP. Just last week at the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, farmers made clear that once this fertile land is paved over, developed and destroyed, it is lost forever. This would have catastrophic impacts for Ontarians as we would have to rely more on costly imports and supply chains.

It’s my hope that this government will recognize the important role local farmers play in Ontario’s food security and support the greenbelt restoration act.

Government investments

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: I’m grateful to advocate for the many hard-working men and women in Niagara West, who make things and make things happen. I’m proud to support risk-takers and visionaries; the entrepreneurs who see opportunity and seize it, creating good jobs for so many in the communities of Niagara West.

Speaker, I wish to share with the House two special success stories in the manufacturing and food processing sectors from my riding, both out of the town of Smithville in West Lincoln. In August, I was joined by the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry in Smithville to congratulate the Vrugteveen family and leadership team at Niagara Pallet on a successful grant through the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program. Our government is investing $1.8 million to help Niagara Pallet expand its production facility and install pallet-making equipment. This will increase the company’s sales by 46% and create 30 new jobs.

Two weeks ago, I announced provincial funding through the Strategic Agri-Food Processing Fund for Highland Ridge in Smithville. The growing meat-processing company is receiving up to $1.7 million to increase processing capacity. This project will include construction of an 18,000-square-foot facility and installation of meat-processing equipment, including slicers, scales, metal detectors, smokehouse, grinders and mixers. Through the hard work of the de Jonge family and the Highland Ridge team, this new site will create over 20 new jobs for Niagara.

We are focused on restoring one of Ontario’s historic strengths: our manufacturing sector. With investments like these, more good paying jobs in Niagara West are on the way.

Je suis plus qu’heureux de faire reconnaître la fierté francophone à Queen’s Park. Il faut aussi prendre cette occasion pour rappeler que nos droits acquis doivent être protéger par nos institutions provinciales.

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

School transportation

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the tireless and relentless work of two mothers who live in rural Carleton.

Cheri Nixon of Osgoode and Jennifer Bugden of Munster are among the many parents in rural Ottawa who have had the lives of their families—and their communities—turned upside down because the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority was unable to secure school bus contracts for thousands of students living in suburban and rural Ottawa. Now, many families are facing difficult circumstances. They have a commute into the city of at least an hour for work, but they are left with no way to get their children to school.

I am proud of Cheri Nixon and Jennifer Bugden for wanting to do something about the problem. They organized Facebook groups, started petitions and spoke with class, dignity and passion at my community barbecue on Saturday, September 9. They have stepped up to become valuable leaders in the community, joining me in the fight to get this situation resolved. They met with Minister Lecce in a Zoom call to make him fully aware of what families in rural Ottawa are facing.

In addition, Jennifer has been engaging with the community to reopen Munster Elementary School, which was shut down by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board in 2015. The school’s closure put a village full of children on school buses while a beautiful and well-maintained building has sat empty, with the exception of some weekly community events that take place on some evenings.

Mr. Speaker, every riding and every community needs people like Cheri Nixon and Jennifer Bugden. The heart and soul they have transcend the villages they live in. What they have both accomplished in a short time sets an example of dedication, determination and selflessness. Right now, they are inspiring everyone, including their—

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

Municipal planning

Mr. Stephen Blais: Abuse of power, the breach of public trust, the exchange of favours for personal or political gain: You may rightly be attributing these sentiments to the government’s ongoing greenbelt corruption scandal, but, Mr. Speaker, this may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Ten days ago, I wrote the Auditor General of Ontario to investigate this government’s unilateral decision to expand the city of Ottawa’s urban boundary in 2022. Following a comprehensive review by the city, they added 1,200 hectares in 2020. This was done after extensive consultation and analysis with the public, with stakeholders and with experts.

A key factor in the city’s analysis was the protection and preservation of high-quality farmland as dictated by the provincial policy statement. However, in November 2022, the former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing used his ministerial powers to override the city’s process and add an additional 654 hectares to the boundary. One area of concern in particular, Mr. Speaker, was an expansion of 37 hectares in Orléans, land that was zoned agricultural resource by the city and protected from development.

According to media reporting, in August 2021, when the property was still designated as ag resource, it was purchased for $12.7 million by the Verdi Alliance companies, a group of companies insinuated in the Integrity Commissioner’s most recent report. Meanwhile, this group donated over $12,000 to the provincial Conservative Party in 2021 and 2022. Mysteriously, a year later, these—

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

Bail reform

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: It’s great to be back in the Legislature. I hope everybody has had a wonderful summer. I know for myself it was full of meaningful community events and a chance for me to connect with my constituents and hear from them on what matters most to them. Over the last few months, I met with many people in Brampton East, and residents have had great conversations on various topics. However, the one that stood out was mostly in regard to the rising crime rates and the need for greater bail reform.

Speaker, in April of this year, our government announced a $112-million investment towards the development of violent-crime bail teams, which included funding to upgrade technology, provide prosecutors with additional resources for complex bail hearings and bolster support for the OPP repeat offender parole enforcement squad.

Despite our government’s great work thus far, we collectively need to do more. As parliamentarians are back in session across the country, I urge our federal members to make the necessary changes and push forward with meaningful bail reform. It’s important that all governments work together to make Ontario a safe place for all residents to live, work and play.

Speaker, our government and our premier will always work hard to keep Ontarians safe, healthy and prosperous. I look forward to our government’s continued efforts to urge the federal government to collaboratively achieve strong and meaningful bail reform.

Aralyn Smith / Natalie Dodd / Ella Shelton

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: It’s a pleasure to rise in the Legislature today to congratulate three exceptional athletes who made big news in Oxford over the summer.

First, I would like to congratulate two students at Woodstock Collegiate, Aralyn Smith and Natalie Dodd, who were both on Team Canada at the 16th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships. Aralyn is from Embro and has competed in world championships since she was 12. Natalie is from a farm just outside of Hickson and has been interested in dragon boating since she was nine. They both did an amazing job, coming home with three gold and five silver medals. Team Canada also won the world championship, winning 52 gold medals, the most medals overall.

I would also like to congratulate Folden’s native Ella Shelton as well, who will be leaving Oxford for the Big Apple after being drafted on the New York team of the new Professional Women’s Hockey League. Previously, Ella played in the NCAA for Clarkson University, was part of two Canadian world championship teams and won a gold medal in the 2022 Winter Olympics. Ella was New York’s first pick in the draft, and she was drafted fourth overall.

Congratulations again to these three amazing athletes. Your hard work and perseverance has paid off. You are an inspiration to the young girls in Oxford who dream to compete in professional sports one day.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes our members’ statements for this morning.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m pleased to inform the House that we have a former member in the House, Kathryn McGarry, who was the member for Cambridge in the 41st provincial Parliament. Welcome back, Kathryn.

And I’m pleased to inform the House that we have with us in the Speaker’s Gallery today a delegation from the House committee on international trade of the Arizona House of Representatives.

Please join me in warmly welcoming our guests to the Legislature today.

Mr. Chris Glover: I’d like to welcome the members of the U of T NDP, including Chaitri Shah, Francesca Policarpio, Jake Barton, Avreet Jagdev, Amareena Saleh, Marie Kinderman, Asima Kidwai, Tuneesha Roy, James Sinton and Samuel Sarjeant.

I would also like to welcome to the House Patrick Porzuczek from the reopen-the-Minden-ER group.

I also want to wish the very best to my new legislative assistant, Ayesha Khan, who is also in the House.

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome the LINC ESL class from the Settlement Assistance and Family Support Services to Queen’s Park. Thank you for making the trip from Scarborough North. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Jessica Bell: I’d like to introduce some students from the University of Toronto: Luca Rampersad, Makayla Kelly, Emma Hartviksen, Jack Baker, Kati Gunnell, Joshua Bakradze, Kate Martens and Sara Yoneci. Welcome to your House.

M. Ted Hsu: J’ai plusieurs introductions ce matin.

I want to acknowledge some of my constituency office staff who are here visiting today. Tanya Da Silva and Alastair Munro are here from my office in Kingston and the Islands. I want to thank them very much for their work and welcome them to Queen’s Park.

I also want to introduce everybody to my lovely wife, Tara Sharkey—they’re all in the public gallery. She has walked every step of the way in my political journey, sometimes carried me through difficult times, and she has been a great partner—and lastly, at the risk of embarrassing my daughter Vera-Claire, who’s starting a two-week stint as a legislative page here in this chamber.

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: J’aimerais souhaiter la bienvenue aux représentants de l’Assemblée francophone de l’Ontario à l’Assemblée législative : M. Fabien Hébert et M. Peter Hominuk.

Ms. Marit Stiles: It’s my pleasure to welcome to the people’s House Patty Coates, the president of the Ontario Federation of Labour. Thank you so much for being here with us today, sister.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: Welcome back, everyone.

I’d like to introduce Patrick Macklem, who’s the professor emeritus of constitutional law from the University of Toronto. He’s in the west members’ gallery.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: It’s my sincere privilege to welcome the great mayor of the city of Windsor, Drew Dilkens, who’s in the members’ gallery today.

Mr. Joel Harden: It’s a great privilege to introduce to the House members of our constituency team in Ottawa Centre. We have with us Erica Braunovan, Ethan Smith-Johnson and Sharon Lee. I would not have been able to make it here this week on my bicycle without those fine folks.

Also tuning in: John Purkis from Ottawa.

Thank you a million times, colleagues, for everything you do.

Hon. David Piccini: It’s a great pleasure to introduce three constituents of mine who are in the gallery today: Mayor John Logel from Alnwick/Haldimand and constituents Jim Corcoran and Jake O’Connor, who have also made the trip down from Grafton.

Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

M. Guy Bourgouin: Je dois reconnaître aussi le président de l’AFO. Il vient de chez nous. C’est un gars de Hearst. Je voudrais souhaiter la bienvenue à toi, Fabien, et à toute ton équipe à Queen’s Park, et à toutes les organisations francophones qui sont ici aujourd’hui pour la journée franco-ontarienne. Bienvenue à votre maison.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: It’s my pleasure today to welcome two of my friends and colleagues from the city of Ottawa who are joining me here today: Rudi Asseer, who is the chair of the Dare to be Vulnerable Project, dealing with storytelling for mental health among leaders in our city; and, of course, Dr. Aroldo Dargel, who is a bipolar specialist with the Ottawa Hospital, specifically at the General hospital. I want to say thank you to them for joining me. It is customary for us to get up and down and up and down to try and get somebody recognized around this place, so don’t take anything by it.

Miss Monique Taylor: I’d like to welcome back to the House, once again, Michau van Speyk from the Ontario Autism Coalition as well as the busloads of folks coming in from Hamilton for the rally on the front lawn today for the Ontario Health Coalition. I am welcoming them to Queen’s Park.

M me Lucille Collard: Nous avons beaucoup de francophones aujourd’hui, mais je veux simplement souligner la présence de Melinda Chartrand, conseillère scolaire au conseil MonAvenir, et Isabelle Girard de l’ACÉPO. Bienvenue à Queen’s Park.

Mr. Brian Riddell: I’d like to introduce my new EA, Matt D’Amico, who just joined us. Welcome to the Legislature.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: I’d like to welcome to the House a constituent, Fraser Passmore, and his partner, Luca. Thanks for being here and welcome to your House.

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: I’d like to introduce to the legislature my new EA, Joseph Scheidl, and my LA, Michael Zwiep, here today. They’re going to be doing hard work on behalf of the people of Ontario in our office.

I also wish to thank Jared Yausie, who is off to the Alberta Legislature, for his service on behalf of the people of Niagara West.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I’d like to give a warm welcome to my constituent Patrick Macklem, who is in the House. Welcome.

Mr. Mike Harris: We couldn’t kick off the legislative session without a hello to Barbara Stevens, who loves to watch question period every day. Hi, Barbara.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes the introduction of guests today.

Introduction of member for Scarborough–Guildwood / Introduction of member for Kanata–Carleton

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I beg to inform the House that the Clerk has received from the Chief Elector Officer and laid upon the table certificates of the by-elections of the electoral districts of Scarborough–Guildwood and Kanata–Carleton.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): I have a letter dated August 10, 2023, addressed to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario that reads as follows:

“Dear Mr. Day:

“A writ of election dated the 28th day of June, 2023, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Ontario, and was addressed to Darryl A. D’Sousa, returning officer for the electoral district of Scarborough–Guildwood, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Scarborough–Guildwood in the Legislative Assembly of this province in the room of Mitzie Hunter who, since her election as representative of the said electoral district of Scarborough–Guildwood, has resigned.

“This is to certify that, a poll having been granted and held in Scarborough–Guildwood on the 27th day of July, 2023, Andrea Hazell has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the ninth day of August, 2023, which is now lodged of record in my office.

“Yours sincerely,

“Greg Essensa

“Chief Electoral Officer

“Toronto, August 10, 2023.”

Applause.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): I have a second letter, also dated August 10, 2023, also addressed to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, that reads as follows:

“Dear Mr. Day,

“A writ of election dated the 28th day of June, 2023, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Ontario, and was addressed to Richard Derouin, returning officer for the electoral district of Kanata–Carleton, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Kanata–Carleton in the Legislative Assembly of this province in the room of Merrilee Fullerton who, since her election as representative of the said electoral district of Kanata–Carleton, has resigned.

“This is to certify that, a poll having been granted and held in Kanata–Carleton on the 27th day of July, 2023, Karen McCrimmon has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the ninth day of August, 2023, which is now lodged of record in my office.

“Yours sincerely,

“Greg Essensa

“Chief Electoral Officer

“Toronto, August 10, 2023.”

MPP Hazell was escorted into the House by Mr. Fraser and Mme Collard.

Mr. John Fraser: Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and to the House Andrea Hazell, member for the electoral district of Scarborough–Guildwood, who has taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims her right to take a seat.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Let the honourable member to take her seat.

MPP McCrimmon was escorted into the House by Mr. Fraser and Mme Collard.

Applause.

Mr. John Fraser: Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and to the House Karen McCrimmon, member for the electoral district of Kanata–Carleton, who has taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims the right to take her seat.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Let the honourable member take her seat.

Applause.

Independent members

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I need to update the House on the participation of independent members. Since the House last met in June, the number of members sitting as independents has increased from 11 to 14. It follows that I need to address the matter of the participation of independent members. Our practices must be adjusted accordingly to provide them with a reasonable and equitable opportunity to participate in our daily proceedings and in debate.

During question period, I will recognize the three additional independent members to ask questions during each eight-day period, allowing us to accommodate all 14 independent members into the rotation. This means that one independent member will be recognized to ask a question each day, with a second independent member recognized every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each independent member recognized during question period will continue to have the opportunity to ask one question and one supplementary question.

Further, as a result of the two recent by-elections in the electoral districts of Scarborough–Guildwood and Kanata–Carleton, there are now eight independent members who sit as part of the Liberal group.

Mr. John Fraser: Nine.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Nine. I will allow these nine members a combined 28 minutes during debates on second and third reading of government bills and on substantive government motions, divided into two 14-minute speaking allotments. This time may be shared among the Liberal independent members, but it may not be banked.

Finally, with regard to members’ statements, there will continue to be one statement allotted to an independent member every sessional day. However, each individual member will now be entitled to participate once per 14-day period instead of once per 11-day period.

I thank the House for its attention.

I understand the member for Ottawa–Vanier has a point of order.

M me Lucille Collard: I do, Mr. Speaker, thank you.

I do seek unanimous consent that, notwithstanding standing order 40(e), five minutes be allotted to the independent members as a group to respond during statements by the ministry and responses today, which is about Franco-Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Collard is seeking unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding standing order 40(e), that five minutes be allotted to the independent members as a group to respond during statements by the ministry and responses today. Agreed? I heard a no.

Question Period

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Welcome back, Speaker, and colleagues.

This summer, people across the province of Ontario were feeling the strain of the rising affordability crisis, a cost-of-living crisis, a housing affordability crisis, and meanwhile, they’ve watched their government lurch from scandal to scandal, crisis to crisis. Now we’ve seen the resignation of three cabinet ministers and two senior staffers so far.

Speaker, my question is to the Premier: How can people trust this Premier to work for them when he has spent the last five years putting his friends and insiders first?

Hon. Doug Ford: Again, I just want to welcome our friends from Arizona: Welcome; I look forward to speaking with you. And my friends from Arizona, you think politics are tough in the United States? Watch us over the next session.

Anyways, I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I’ll answer the reason why people should trust us: When we came to office, it was like walking into a bankrupt company. There were 300,000 jobs lost, down to our friends, down to the US, and now there are 700,000 more people working today than there were five years ago. We’re building $184 billion of infrastructure. We’re focusing on $70 billion of building roads and bridges and highways. We’re focusing on making sure we have the largest transit system in North America. We’re building 50 new sites and hospitals or additions to hospitals, spending over $50 billion—

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

The supplementary question.

Ms. Marit Stiles: You want to talk about the past? Not even at the height of the Liberals’ gas plant scandal has a government been in such disarray.

The government said they were going to clean things up. That’s what this Premier ran on, and now he’s embroiled in a scandal that has seen ethics laws broken. Three cabinet ministers have resigned in disgrace or ran for the exits. Staff in the Conservatives’ inner circles are leaving under a cloud of suspicion, and they’re lawyering up, Speaker. The Premier has said the buck stops with him, so let’s hear from him.

Will the Premier finally come clean and explain his personal involvement in the greenbelt scandal?

Hon. Doug Ford: Well, thank you to the opposition again. You know, I was very clear in my message on Thursday to the people of Ontario. That’s what you call leadership: admitting if there was a mistake, moving forward and making sure we go on with our agenda. That is not going to deter us from building 1.5 million homes.

My friends from Arizona probably don’t realize that Ontario is leading North America in economic development and trade and growth. We’re the fastest-growing region right now in North America. We have over 800,000 people coming to Ontario every single year, and they’re coming to Ontario because that’s where the prosperity is. That’s where the jobs are. That’s where economic development is. That’s where the quality of life is. You want a great life, you come to Ontario. But I can assure the people out there—the new Canadians that are coming here, the young people that need to afford a home—that we’re going to build homes. We’re going to build affordable, attainable—

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

The final supplementary.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, things are worse today for people in this province than they were five years ago—absolutely. And this Premier won’t share his phone records; emails have been deleted in the midst of this scandal.

People out there thought something was wrong, and now we have two independent officers of the Legislature who have confirmed it. The Conservatives rigged the system to benefit their friends. I mean, it’s so bad that it’s being turned over to the RCMP.

Speaker, my question to the Premier is, has he spoken to the RCMP about the circumstances of the greenbelt carve-out?

Hon. Doug Ford: Well, Mr. Speaker, is it better now than it was five years ago? It’s not a little better; it’s not 10% better; it’s a thousand times better on all fronts. It’s a thousand times better for the 30,000 homes we’re building in long-term care, when the opposition built 600 in 15 years, so 30,000—600. Again, Mr. Speaker, we’re building the transit: We’re building 413, the Bradford Bypass; we’re building Highway 7 and Highway 3 to get goods from point A to point B and people home a lot quicker. Mr.

Speaker, as you see us report some of the health reports that I’m going to see, actually, the backlog of surgeries is going down. We’re pouring money into the new nurses that are coming here. There’s 30,000 nurses in our colleges and universities. We saw 15,000 nurses come on board already—67,000 since we’ve been in office—8,000 new doctors. Mr. Speaker, I could spend another half an hour telling you why the province is a thousand times better now than it was—

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

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

Restart the clock. The next question: Once again, the Leader of the Opposition.

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Maybe if the Premier had spent more time listening to people this summer—people who have seen their emergency rooms closed; kids who can’t get treatment with the autism program; people who were fighting forest fires all across this province—maybe he would have learned something and he wouldn’t have spent his summer divvying upping the spoils to his friends.

This afternoon, I’m going to be tabling the Greenbelt Restoration Act, the official opposition NDP’s bill to restore and protect all of the lands this government removed from the greenbelt—a solution that the Premier finally agrees is the right thing to do. We must restore integrity to government, Premier. We’re going to be calling for unanimous consent of this House, so, to the Premier: Ontarians will be watching. Will he pass our legislation to restore and protect lands in the greenbelt?

Interjections.

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

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: To be very clear, Mr. Speaker: No, we will not be supporting the member’s legislation. Obviously, we’ve not seen the legislation, so we would never provide unanimous consent to something that we have not seen. But, to be very clear, we will be voting against that legislation today.

I will be bringing forward legislation very soon which will not only return the lands but ensure that an additional 7,000 acres of land are put into the greenbelt. And we will go one step further, Mr. Speaker: We will codify in legislation the boundaries of the greenbelt so that it is protected through legislation and not through regulation. So, no, we will not be supporting the member’s legislative piece today because we’re going to go further and we’re going to do what has never been done in this province before: We will protect the greenbelt once and for all.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, why would anyone trust this government to fix a disaster of their own making? There are still so many questions—so many questions—that this Premier and this government refuse to answer in this $8.3-billion scandal.

So, back to the Premier: How did these speculators know to give your office the details about the parcels of land to remove from the greenbelt before it was announced to the public? Who tipped them off?

Interjections.

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: The reality is that both the Auditor General and the Integrity Commissioner have reported on that, Mr. Speaker. But what the reality is, is that the NDP and the Liberals continue to double down on policies that have put Ontario into a housing crisis.

We have been working for five years to untangle the mess that was the opposition’s policies on housing. In fact, Mr. Speaker, in the member’s own riding, where average income is about $55,000 a year, the average house price is about $1.1 million. It would take somebody $80,000 in mortgage payments just to afford that home, and what does the member opposite do? She continues to support policies that would take all of the people in her riding out of the ability to own a home. We are going to double down on policies that help build houses for people across the province of Ontario. Make no mistake: We’ll get the job done.

Interjections.

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

Restart the clock. The final supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, not only did it take two scathing reports and unprecedented resignations to force this Premier to do the right thing, not only did he allow the housing crisis to get worse—yes, worse—while this scandal expanded, but he’s put our province in a position where we could be on the hook for billions.

Speaker, back to the Premier: How much is this government’s greenbelt disaster going to cost Ontario’s taxpayers?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

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

Nothing—nothing. We will be presenting a bill later on this week which will ensure that the people of the province of Ontario are focused on what matters to them: building houses for the people of the province of Ontario.

She talks about us adding on to the housing crisis? It’s unbelievable to me. We have seen, because of the policies of this government, housing starts at the highest level in over 30 years—and it’s not just single-family homes; it is purpose-built rentals that, under their policies, came to a halt for over 30 years. This is a party that, with the Liberals, doubled down on increasing taxes for the people of the province of Ontario year after year after year. They think that increasing taxes somehow encourages an economy to grow.

We have shown that by reducing taxes, cutting red tape and investing in priorities of people, 700,000 jobs come back and the economy booms. And now we’re going to get it done in housing as well.

Land use planning

Mr. Jeff Burch: Speaker, through you to the Premier: The same favoured insiders who received preferential treatment in the greenbelt decision are also benefiting from shady backroom deals for MZOs, urban boundary expansions and Highway 413.

Will this government stop paving over protected farmland to enrich its friends?

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: Let’s unpack that, if we can. MZOs were requested by municipal partners for the most part—our municipal partners asked us. Where we didn’t get requests from municipal partners is when I was the Minister of Long-Term Care—we now have a great Minister of Long-Term Care. When I was the Minister of Long-Term Care, we actually had municipalities—Port Hope, for instance—that actually refused to give us long-term-care homes.

So I went to the minister and said, “Give me an MZO because I want to close down 30-, 40-, 50-year-old long-term-care homes that aren’t sprinklered and build brand new ones.” I won’t apologize for doing that. I’ll continue to do it, whether it’s for long-term-care homes, whether it’s for the Minister of Colleges and Universities, who wants to build dormitories for students. I’m going to double down, and I’m going to make sure that we build that housing, not only for seniors, not only for young families, but for students in his area and in all parts of this province.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question? The member for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: Mr. Speaker, I can assure the minister that the city of Hamilton did not request that you meddle with our urban plan.

I have been ringing the alarm about this government’s backroom deals for urban sprawl in Hamilton for months now. The Integrity Commissioner’s report revealed that the same developers who successfully influenced the Ford government to remove their land from the greenbelt also benefited from a provincial order to expand the city’s urban boundary.

My question, Mr. Speaker: Did this government give preferential treatment to developers, with shady MZOs and undemocratic changes to our official plan?

Hon. Paul Calandra: And there you have it, Mr. Speaker, don’t you? It’s not about the greenbelt, colleagues. It has never been about the greenbelt for them. It’s about stopping people from having the same benefits that generations of Ontarians have always had. They don’t want to build on the greenbelt. They don’t even want to build in their own areas. In fact, after the decision was made to restore the lands to the greenbelt, some of those members called me to say that they had already done their job in their area and that they didn’t want to see intensification, they didn’t want to see towers.

Well, let me tell you this: We are going to build all across the province, because young Ontarians deserve to have that first home; the seniors who want to downsize deserve to have a place that they can downsize to, they deserve to have long-term-care homes; our students deserve to have dormitories. That is what is important.

So to all of those people who are in their parents’ basement right now and want to have a home: We have your back. They continue to do the same thing, and we won’t allow it to happen.

We’ll get the job done for them each and every day.

Economic development

Mr. Will Bouma: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Companies from around the globe are looking to Ontario for their future, and our government must be a champion that will support our industry leaders and innovators. It is essential that we continue to attract new investments that will ensure Ontario’s economy will grow and thrive. This summer, the minister led an international trade and investment mission to South Korea and Japan to strengthen economic partnerships, foster pre-existing relationships and forge new alliances.

Speaker, at a time of economic and geopolitical unrest, can the minister please explain how his leadership in spearheading this investment trade mission is helping to strengthen Ontario’s overall economic environment?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Our recent sales mission to Asia focused on strengthening relationships with our partners and attracting new investments in key sectors, including electric vehicles, life sciences and tech.

While in South Korea, we joined LSK Investment to announce their new $100-million life sciences fund for Ontario companies. This new fund will support early-stage life sciences companies with a focus on developing new therapeutics. LSK also announced their plans to open the first overseas office worldwide—and their first North American office—here in Toronto. This investment will strengthen Ontario’s growing life sciences sector. With Ontario’s talented workforce, the best R&D facilities and 65,000 annual STEM grads, more overseas companies are coming.

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

Mr. Will Bouma: When we think of Japan and South Korea, we think of their innovative technology and sophisticated and renowned automotive industry. With our government’s many efforts to rebuild our now-thriving automotive sector after the Liberals chased away thousands of auto manufacturing jobs to south of the border, it’s no surprise that we have a lot in common with these two nations.

The minister mentioned that he met with companies in an array of sectors. Speaker, can the minister please expand on other companies he met with while on his trade and investment mission and shed light on any news that we can expect following it?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Mr. Speaker, in Japan, we met with companies across the automotive and the tech sectors. We thanked Honda and Toyota for their long-standing and continued investments here in Ontario and LG Energy for their $5-billion investment in Windsor, which will create thousands of well-paying jobs. When we talk about the over $26 billion in auto and EV investments we’ve attracted in the last three years, we are confident, Speaker, that this is only the start. On the tech side, we were thrilled to meet with Japanese telecom giant KDDI. They are investing $1.35 billion here in downtown Toronto in three data centres.

Speaker, companies around the world continue to choose Ontario for their future because our government has reduced the cost of doing business by $8 billion every single year.

Health care

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour le premier minister. Premier, this morning on our first day back, people from across Ontario woke up early to get on buses to come to Queen’s Park. The good people of North Bay, Renfrew, Cornwall, Barrie, Bracebridge, Midland, Orangeville, Parry Sound, Chatham, Peterborough, Durham—the list goes on—are joining thousands of people on the front lawn. They are speaking with one voice.

Does the Premier know why thousands of people are on our front lawn?

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

Hon. Sylvia Jones: It is a pleasure to be able to rise and talk about some of the incredible investments we’ve been able to do since 2018. There is no doubt that we were left with a system that Kathleen Wynne, in an exit interview, said, “if we had only, as the Liberal Party, not frozen the health care budget; if we had only not cut those residency positions for physicians.” Imagine where we would be, Speaker. We would have an additional 100 physicians being able to practise in Ontario.

But we have not let that deter us. We have a plan and it is working. There are so many pieces of it. I’m looking forward to talking about some of the innovation that we have able to do working with, for example, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, to make sure that individuals who want to practise in the province of Ontario can do that without additional barriers.

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

M me France Gélinas: Let me tell you why there are thousands of people on the front lawn of Queen’s Park: It is because they want to tell this government to stop the privatization of our health care system. It’s that simple.

It doesn’t matter what you call those private clinics. The Auditor General already did the work: 97% are for-profit. They are there to make money for their investors. They poach valuable health care workers from our public system, the system that this government turned on its head with Bill 124.

Are the Premier and Minister of Health ready to listen to the people who made the journey to come to Queen’s Park to represent millions of Ontarians, and reverse the privatization of surgical suites as well as all hospital services?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Speaker, I’m incredibly proud of our Premier and our government caucus, who have been able to—publicly funded health care services expand—whether it is in the largest expansion of primary care health teams that we have seen since we’ve started health care teams in the province of Ontario, whether it is through absolutely integrated and surgical diagnostic centres.

When we brought forward those expansions of cataract surgeries in January—we now have 14,000 people who can read to their grandchildren, who can go back to work, who can volunteer in their community, because those surgeries were done in community, publicly funded, using their OHIP card.

Northern Ontario development

Mr. Will Bouma: My next question is for the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development. Speaker, for far too long, northern Ontario was neglected and disrespected by the previous Liberal government. They failed to recognize northern Ontario’s economic potential. They disparaged these important communities by calling it a “no man’s land.” Supported by the NDP, previous governments cut vital resources and programs while adding high taxes and burdensome regulations that made life more difficult. That is why it is essential that our government continues to demonstrate leadership and show respect by building lasting partnerships with the north.

In order for Ontario to be a decisive, confident international leader, we must ensure that every region of our province is thriving economically.

Speaker, can the minister please explain to this House what our government is doing to ensure that northern Ontario businesses and communities can prosper?

Hon. Greg Rickford: We had an extraordinary opportunity to go visit towns and cities across northern Ontario, to invest in their economies and invest in their local infrastructure. We started out in Sudbury, with the YES Theatre. The Blind River Beavers were celebrating a new roof and dropping the puck against the Elliot Lake Vikings. We weren’t there just to fix the roof; we were there to raise the roof, Mr. Speaker. They went on to win that game.

Making improvements to the Legion in Spanish—and then we swung through Little Current—no pun intended—and announced a brand new two-lane swing bridge, and then off to Echo Bay for a new roof in their arena.

What do they have in common, Mr. Speaker? There was so much enthusiasm about these local infrastructure projects. I had to tell them that their member of provincial Parliament voted against the projects, but they wouldn’t let that rain on their parade. They’re excited about northern Ontario towns, cities and First Nations communities and what our government is doing to invest in them.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Brantford–Brant.

Mr. Will Bouma: As our government continues to rebuild Ontario, it is important that we remain committed to providing long-term investments that will ensure all communities can thrive. Under the leadership of our government, programs that support Indigenous economic development and northern businesses are leading to economic success in those communities.

Even the Liberal Party, during one of their leadership debates, acknowledged that northern Ontario’s economy is booming because of the actions taken by our government—thank you.

While these are positive developments, we know that during this time of global economic uncertainty, many northern and Indigenous businesses continue to face unforeseen challenges. That is why our government must ensure that we are making meaningful investments that will help create jobs and support opportunities to modernize business practices.

Speaker, can the minister please explain what our government is doing to ensure that Indigenous entrepreneurs can participate in Ontario’s growing economy?

Hon. Greg Rickford: It’s equally imperative that we make targeted investments in First Nations communities across northern Ontario. In the fiscal year 2022-23, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund invested $17 million in more than 61 First Nations projects, leveraging $30.9 million and creating or sustaining more than 110 jobs.

What does this look like on the ground, Mr. Speaker? The Biigtigong Nishnaabeg outdoor arena and upgrades to their community centre to improve their training capacity, the Matawa Wellness and Training Centre, the Mattagami First Nation Fishing tournaments and improvements to their waterfront development, and the list goes on.

What’s changed about a new-look Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is that we’ve gone from just under 1% in the previous government to up to 19% of those investments annually into First Nations communities in northern Ontario. We’re changing the game, Mr. Speaker, investing in their businesses and investing in their communities for a greater sense of prosperity across northern Ontario.

School transportation

Ms. Chandra Pasma: School bus cancellations have thrown thousands of Ottawa families into chaos this September, because the Minister of Education cut $6 million in transportation funding to Ottawa school boards. When the boards rightfully complained, the minister offered just $1.8 million in a one-time transfer, but only if the boards agreed to use key messages praising the government.

Why does the minister think it’s okay to demand praise while Ottawa parents scramble every day to get their kids to school?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Mr. Speaker, when our government increased funding for student transportation by $111 million, what did the NDP and Liberals do? They voted against the investment.

When our government increased funding to Ottawa school boards, $75 million this school year, what did the member opposite do when given the chance to support her own community? She voted against it.

Interjection.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Indeed. There’s some pattern of consistency in the NDP and Liberals.

Why doesn’t the member opposite stop politicizing an issue that disrupts parents’ lives, get on board, hold the school board to account and demand better for the people of Ottawa?

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

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Cutting $6 million permanently while offering $1.8 million once isn’t an increase, Speaker; that’s a cut. For parents, this is a nightmare situation: getting to work late, leaving early, scrambling every single day to get our kids to school.

The minister created this problem with his funding cut. What is he going to do to fix it?

Instead of justifying the inaction of the board and consortium, stand up for constituents and demand better for Ottawa students.

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Carleton, come to order.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Education, come to order.

Start the clock.

Government accountability

Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the Premier. Last week, the Premier’s $8.3-billion gravy train derailed, and Speaker, what a mess: three cabinet ministers lost in a month, and the Premier’s office is right in the thick of it. Amin Massoudi and Jae Truesdell were both on that infamous Vegas trip with that developer friend of the Premier’s. And then the Premier’s ex-executive assistant, Nico Fidani-Diker, was working with Mr. X to crack open the greenbelt, and that same Mr. X, an unregistered lobbyist, was passing brown envelopes.

And of course, we have the Premier’s hand-picked chief of staff for the minister of housing, Ryan Amato, the one who the Premier wants us to believe was the lone wolf in this whole thing.

Speaker, it’s clear to all of us here and all Ontarians that all roads lead to the Premier’s office in this scandal. Why won’t the Premier apologize to Ontarians for trying to pull an $8.3-billion fast one on them?

Hon. Doug Ford: Speaker, I just find it pretty rich coming from the Liberals, who had scandal after scandal for 15 years; cost the taxpayers billions of dollars; changed the greenbelt not once, not twice, not three times, but 17 times for your buddies, building mega-mansions.

Mr. Speaker, when we took office, as I said earlier, we inherited a bankrupt province from the Liberals and the NDP supporting them. We have turned things around. My friends from Arizona—we’re the number-one trading partner to 19 states, number-two to nine other states. We’re an economic powerhouse in North America. We do $460 billion a year with the United States. We would be the third-largest trading partner in the world to the US. We have an incredible relationship, shipping car parts back and forth up to seven or eight times.

But do you know something, Mr. Speaker? Last month, the numbers came out: We created more jobs in Ontario than all 50 states combined. That’s what we’re doing for the people of Ontario.

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

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

Start the clock. The supplementary question.

Mr. John Fraser: No one believes the Premier’s stories anymore, and the greenbelt is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s just the piece that we can see more clearly now. There are a lot more gravy trains on the rails right now in Ontario. There are the municipal boundaries in Ottawa and Hamilton. And how about Highway 413, or those questionable MZOs that are out there that they’re trying to hide between stuff that’s for long-term care homes? And God knows what else the Premier is doing in health care; we can’t see that yet.

So what is this really all about? It’s about how the Premier thinks he can do business in this province. It’s all about what his priorities are, and it’s very clear his priorities are rich, well-connected insiders and putting them ahead of all Ontarians.

So I’m going to ask once more: Why won’t the Premier just apologize and admit that he was wrong? And let’s actually put this to committee, so we can have some witnesses in about what happened in this greenbelt scandal.

Hon. Doug Ford: I find it very rich. Let’s go back to the days of the Liberals when they would have a dinner party and you’re only allowed to go to your place or the minister’s place if you paid the minister $20,000. Let’s remind people of that.

Mr. Speaker, we’re going to move the province forward. We’re going to create the 1.5 million homes. We’re going to make sure that we create economic development and job creation so that we’re leading North America. We’re going to focus on the $184 billion of infrastructure that the Liberals and the NDP failed to do. They didn’t build the 413. They talked about Highway 7; they did absolutely nothing. They talked about Highway 3 and did absolutely nothing. We’re building the Bradford Bypass.

And guess what? As the hospitals were crumbling, we’re putting $50 billion into building 50 new hospitals or additions to hospitals, and that’s the tip of the iceberg. But thank you for the question.

Long-term care

Mr. Dave Smith: First, I’d like to congratulate my good friend the member from Willowdale on becoming the Minister of Long-Term Care—and now I’m going to grill him with a question.

In June, I was privileged to have the Minister of Long-Term Care come to my community of Peterborough to announce the construction of 416 new long-term-care beds at the Marianhill Nursing Home and Extendicare in Peterborough. These critical investments by our government are positive and are welcomed by the people of both Peterborough and Pembroke, but there’s still more that needs to be done to increase capacity in long-term care to help support Ontario’s seniors. That’s why it’s so important that our government continues with our plan to invest in the infrastructure that’s needed to care for our seniors.

Speaker, can the Minister of Long-Term Care please explain how our government is increasing the number of long-term-care homes across Ontario?

Hon. Stan Cho: Let’s start with what a shift this is, under the leadership of this Premier and this wonderful former Minister of Long-Term Care, building record homes in this province.

Let’s just take Peterborough, Pembroke and surrounding areas as one example: 416 new, safe, modern long-term-care beds. This is the tip of the iceberg, though, Speaker, because our government is supporting another six projects in Renfrew county and four more in Peterborough county. That’s a total of 1,400 new and upgraded long-term-care beds. What a stark contrast, just in that area alone, compared to what the Liberals did for the better part of a decade, a net 611 new beds.

In fact, I have a bigger update for this House, Speaker. Since taking office, under the leadership of this Premier, since 2018, 18,000 beds have been completed or are under construction. That is fantastic news for our seniors. They took care of us; we’re going to take care of them.

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

Mr. Dave Smith: Speaker, I would like to thank the minister for that. All seniors in Ontario deserve to be treated with dignity and to receive the quality of care that they need. That’s why it’s so important that our government continues to prioritize the needs of seniors and continues to build more new long-term-care homes.

However, rising interest rates and construction costs are making it more expensive to finance crucial infrastructure projects. With pressing needs in communities across our province, it’s positive that our government introduced an additional top-up to the construction funding subsidy to support the costs of developing or redeveloping long-term-care homes.

Speaker, can the minister please provide an update on the benefits of this funding strategy in supporting solutions that will meet the needs of our seniors in Ontario?

Hon. Stan Cho: A very relevant issue that the member brings up: Construction costs around the world are up. That of course includes in the long-term-care sector.

The program he’s speaking of is the construction funding subsidy, or the CFS. Some 67 projects have been approved under the CFS. This will add over 11,000 new and upgraded long-term-care beds across the province, despite the challenges they’re having with the construction issues.

This is one of the largest long-term capital development projects in this province’s history, in this country’s history, part of a larger plan to build 30,000 new long-term-care beds and improve 28,000 additional, for nearly 60,000 in added capacity. Compare that to the track record of the last government.

But more importantly, we need to make sure these beds are actually staffed: $4.9 billion to establish four hours of daily care per resident in our great province.

Speaker, I’ll say it again: Our seniors took care of us. It is our responsibility to take care of them.

M. Guy Bourgouin: Le 30 juin dernier à 17 h, avant le jour du Canada, comme pour passer inaperçu, la ministre des Collèges et Universités refuse officiellement le financement d’une université par, pour et avec les Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes : l’Université de Sudbury.

Le gouvernement dit qu’il se base sur plusieurs rapports, dont le rapport final du PEQAB, pour justifier le refus du financement. Pourtant, lors d’une demande d’accès à l’information de mon bureau, nous nous sommes vu refuser l’accès au même document qui devrait justifier la réponse du gouvernement.

Alors, pourquoi ne pas autoriser le partage du rapport du PEQAB pour que la communauté comprenne la décision du ministère? Madame la Ministre, qu’avez-vous à cacher? Est-ce encore une autre situation comme la ceinture de verdure?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you to the member for that question. Students, their families and the taxpayers of Ontario deserve to know that when their hard-earned dollars are invested in Ontario’s post-secondary system, that investment pays off.

Our decision to not fund the Université de Sudbury’s proposal to become a stand-alone French-language university was one that was not made lightly. The university’s proposal did not reflect current demand and enrolment trends or the existing capacity of post-secondary institutions to offer French-language programs in the Greater Sudbury area and across Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary? The member for Sudbury.

MPP Jamie West: Le gouvernement conservateur prend ses décisions en secret, sans consulter et surtout sans tenir compte de la réalité des Ontariens du Nord. La réalité, c’est que les Franco-Ontariens du Nord veulent une université par, pour et avec les francophones à Sudbury, pas à quatre heures de Sudbury.

Ma question est pour le premier ministre : quand est-ce que le gouvernement conservateur va financer l’Université de Sudbury?

We are also taking meaningful action to address the shortage of French-language teachers in Ontario. In fact, just last month, I was with the Minister of Education and the Treasury Board president and Minister of Francophone Affairs, where we announced an additional—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. The member for Mushkegowuk–James Bay, come to order.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: We announced an additional 110 French-language teacher education spaces for the 2023-24 academic year. We’ve also announced stand-alone nursing at—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Mushkegowuk–James Bay must come to order. The minister can conclude her answer.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We also announced a stand-alone nursing programs for Collège Boréal to offer nursing not only in Sudbury but also in Toronto, as well as La Cité to offer nursing spaces. We do value francophone education, and we are giving choices to students across the province.

Housing

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Associate Minister of Housing. For too many Ontarians, including young people, newcomers and seniors right here in Ottawa, finding the right home is still a major challenge. While our government is taking meaningful measures to address housing supply through new legislation, the scale of this problem calls for continued action and leadership. More resources are needed to build upon the work already under way and to bring forward more measures to address this serious issue. Finding solutions means working in partnership with all levels of government in order to produce results.

So Speaker, through you, can the associate minister please explain how our government is getting more homes built?

Hon. Rob Flack: Thank you for the question from the great member of Carleton, a great friend indeed. The member is absolutely right. We’re in a housing supply crisis that we’ve never seen in this province ever, ever. That is why, on the first day of my job, I was joined by Mayor Vrbanovic and MP Chagger where we provided more residents of Kitchener an affordable place to call home at the historic St. Paul’s church.

Speaker, we are providing over $1.4 million to support the construction of 21 affordable housing units that will give seniors in their community a safe and affordable place to call home. Projects like St. Paul’s are exactly what we need to improve the housing crunch in Kitchener and, indeed, across this province. We all know there is much more work to be done. This government will keep cutting red tape, and we will keep working with all partners to get the job done. And yes, Speaker, we will succeed as we act, as we achieve and remain accountable to the people of Ontario.

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

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you, thank you to the associate minister. Mr. Speaker, I agree; everyone in Ontario should be able to find a housing solution that meets their needs.

While it is encouraging to hear about the progress our government is making to advance housing construction, there is still more work that needs to be done, not just in Ottawa but across the province.

The commitment by municipalities and the federal government to work collaboratively with our government in developing strategies that will provide real and long-term housing solutions is important and essential. In order to meet our goal of significantly increasing our housing supply, decisive action need to be taken.

Mr. Speaker, through you: Can the associate minister please explain how our government is supporting municipalities across our province, including the great city of Ottawa, so they can deliver on their housing commitments?

Hon. Rob Flack: Thank you again to the member opposite. By providing funding to municipalities, local leaders have the freedom to choose projects that will work best for their own communities. It puts the decision-making in the hands of those who know their neighbourhoods best. We are investing another $42 million through the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit to support municipalities across the province by providing urgent assistance to the rapidly growing number of asylum claimants.

This housing crisis requires all hands on deck. We are getting it done for seniors; we are getting it done for students, for newcomers and first-time homebuyers. We are getting shovels in the ground and building the homes all Ontarians deserve. We remain committed to building at least 1.5 million homes by 2031. That is our duty. That is our mandate. It’s results that count, and we will get the job done.

Student safety

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: Early in September, the Premier claimed that teachers and school boards are indoctrinating children. The Premier’s words do matter. My constituent Rebecca reached out to me after the protest last week: “I am the parent of a trans child. I was called garbage, a pedophile and an indoctrinator when I joined the counter-protest. One chant recited, ‘Trans kids are not kids.’” This constituent broke down and cried.

Speaker, the Premier must correct the record. It is the government’s own curriculum that the schools are actually teaching. Will he apologize and correct the record that Ontario schools are not indoctrinating our youth?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: We believe every single student in Ontario, irrespective of their differences in their faith or heritage, sexual orientation or gender, place of birth, colour of skin—it does not matter. Every child should feel affirmed, respected and safe. We absolutely agree with that conviction.

Now, we also believe as Progressive Conservatives that parents have a foundational role to play in the life of their kids. Those concepts must co-exist. We believe parents are at the centre of Ontario’s publicly funded school system. With respect, we don’t claim to know better than the NDP. We actually believe and trust parents to love and support their kids. We will stand up for them and ensure every child is safe in the province of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question? The member for Toronto–St. Paul’s.

MPP Jill Andrew: My question is to the Premier. Trans, queer and gender-non-conforming students are terrified right now, following comments made by this Conservative Premier. In his attempt to distract from the corruption of his government, this Premier offered space for baseless—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask the member to withdraw her unparliamentary comment.

MPP Jill Andrew: I apologize. A teacher in my community—

Interjections.

MPP Jill Andrew: I said it. Open your ears. I said it.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. The member withdrew.

Conclude your question.

MPP Jill Andrew: A teacher in my community who sees first-hand the dangerous impacts of this rising hate came to me “greatly troubled by the Ministry of Education ... for creating unsafe conditions for those who are marginalized.”

As much as we hope it is, students’ homes are not always safe and supportive places for trans youth. The Premier has signalled that he would go as far as outing vulnerable trans kids. My question is to the Premier himself, not the Minister of Education: Speak directly to trans students today—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. The response, Minister of Education.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: We will always uphold the human rights of all children in the province of Ontario—every child.

We also believe, as Progressive Conservatives, as Canadians, that parents have a fundamental role in the life of their children. They are the centre of Ontario’s publicly funded school system. We just passed a bill, Bill 98, the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, that literally strengthens and enshrines the voices of parents. The NDP and Liberals actually voted against that principle. How can you explain to your constituents that parents should not have more involvement in the lives of their children?

We will stand up for parents, we will, yes, stand up for human rights and we will ensure kids and schools get back to basics—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Toronto–St. Paul’s will come to order.

Interjections.

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

Start the clock. The next question.

Women’s employment

Ms. Natalie Pierre: My question is for the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. Our government must build a province where all women and girls are empowered to succeed. We know that Ontario and our economy benefit by supporting more women in the workforce, especially in leading-edge industry, including occupations in the skilled trades. Unfortunately, the number of women employed in the skilled trades sector is well below their male counterparts. With more than 100,000 unfilled skilled trades jobs, it’s critical that we attract more women to pursue good-paying jobs in these sectors.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain how our government is helping women across Ontario develop their skills so that they can enter these in-demand careers?

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: Thank you to the member from Burlington.

Mr. Speaker, this past summer, I had the privilege of meeting with hundreds of women who are entering the workforce thanks to the programs and investments made by our government in supporting training and skills development. This includes promoting a wide range of fields and careers to women and girls, especially in sectors where the need is greatest, like STEM and the skilled trades. That’s why our government is investing $1.3 million to prepare women from under-represented groups for in-demand careers such as the trucking industry.

Only 2% of Ontario’s truck drivers are women, which is why this program will reimburse up to $4,500 for child care and other living expenses for women who enter.

We are making workplaces safer for women, and we’re building a province where everyone can thrive once again.

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

Ms. Natalie Pierre: Last week was designated as Gender Equality Week, an important opportunity to celebrate the significant achievements of women in our province while still also recognizing that barriers to gender equality still exist. We know Ontario is facing the largest labour shortage in a generation and every day tens of thousands of jobs are going unfilled in Ontario, costing our province billions in productivity. We also know that women are part of the solution and that there is still more work that needs to be done to get more women into those jobs. Our government must continue to recognize that women play a vital role in building a stronger Ontario.

Speaker, can the associate minister please elaborate on how our government is removing barriers and creating more economic opportunities for women and girls?

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: The member from Burlington is right: Under the leadership of our government and the Premier, we are taking a whole-of-government approach to increasing women’s participation in the workforce to support their economic security and prosperity.

I’m so proud to share that we are already seeing positive impacts from our investments. Last year, labour force participation rates for Ontario mothers reached the highest levels on record since 1976, and the labour participation rate for mothers with children under the age of five increased by 2.4 percentage points.

Colleagues, our government is on the right track. Last year, Ontario achieved an historic increase in skilled trades apprenticeship registrations, including a 28% increase in registrations for women alone.

Mr. Speaker, it’s never been clearer that when women succeed, Ontario succeeds, and we’re getting it done for the people of Ontario.

Road safety

Mr. Joel Harden: My question is for the Premier. Good morning, colleagues.

Speaker, I just had occasion to ride my bicycle from Ottawa to Toronto, as a measure to try to find out at a community level what people are talking about with road safety. What I heard concerned me, in places like Ottawa, Kingston, Brighton, Oshawa, Scarborough and right here in the great city of Toronto.

I talked to a paramedic who, while he was responding to a call, had his paramedic bus hit and one of his colleagues injured as they were trying to save someone’s life. I talked to the family of a young girl, Serene Summers in Ottawa, whose life will be forever changed due to a brain injury from someone who hit her and left the scene. And what I’m hearing from road workers, from seniors like Peggy Hawthorn from the United Senior Citizens of Ontario, is that you can alter someone’s life—you can even take someone’s life—but there are no meaningful consequences in the province of Ontario.

People on all sides of this House have worked on this for 10 years, and we still don’t have justice for people and families. So my question to the Minister of Transportation and to the Premier is: Is this a priority for your government, and are you prepared to work with me on it?

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

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: The government takes road safety and the safety of all users on the road very safely. Ontario has some of the safest streets in North America, and we’re working hard to keep it this way.

I look forward to engaging with the member opposite on continuing to build safer roads across the province. The former Minister of Transportation introduced a very important piece of legislation in this House known as the MOMS Act, which included harsher penalties for those not obeying safety on our roads, and we’ll continue to work towards our collective goals, as that member mentioned, to keep our roads safe.

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

Mr. Joel Harden: As we begin this hopeful collaboration, I’m going to agree to disagree with my friend over there. Sitting next to me here is the member from St. Catharines. Her mom was struck outside an elementary school, knocked 15 feet in the air—

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Twenty-five.

Mr. Joel Harden: —25 feet in the air. That woman’s life is forever changed, and the maximum penalty in a situation like this, Minister and members of the government, is $500. There is no immediate provision for licence suspension for someone who drives like this.

What we’re proposing in Bill 40 is an immediate one-year licence suspension, an immediate focus not on vilifying the person who causes an accident, but helping people be better drivers, helping people be better cyclists, helping people be better operators of whatever device they use in our communities—restorative justice, Speaker.

We’ve been working on it for 10 years. It’s an opportunity for us to do something unique in this place: work together. My question to the minister: Are you prepared to have this dialogue with us? Look into Bill 40. Let’s get this thing passed. Let’s work on it together.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: We have introduced measures in this House that are going to deter bad behaviours on the road. As I mentioned previously, the former Minister of Transportation introduced longer driver’s licence suspensions, and also longer vehicle impoundment periods for drivers who were engaging in reckless acts, whether that would be stunt driving, street racing or aggressive driving.

We take road safety very seriously, and I look forward to working with all members of this House and speaking to and hearing from their experiences about how we can continue to make these roads safer, because Ontario does have some of the safest roads in all of North America, and we will do everything we can to uphold that safety on our roads.

Mental health and addiction services

Mr. Dave Smith: My question is for the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. It’s a reality that every year, more than one million people in Ontario experience mental health and addictions challenges.

In 2020, our government introduced the Roadmap to Wellness initiative, a strategy that builds and strengthens access to quality mental health care and addictions services in our province. This initiative was created with the goal of improving mental health care for everyone across Ontario.

Our government must remain committed to building an Ontario where everyone is fully supported in their journey towards mental wellness. Speaker, can the associate minister please provide an update on the progress that our government has made to improve the delivery of critical mental health services?

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Thank you to the member for that very important question and for the opportunity to talk about how we’re rebuilding and modernizing Ontario’s mental health care and addictions system. The Roadmap to Wellness, our plan to build Ontario’s mental health and addictions system, will improve mental health services for communities across Ontario and support patients and families living with mental health and addictions challenges. Investments through the roadmap and Addictions Recovery Fund are allowing us to build a recovery-oriented continuum of care that’s focused on giving people their lives back, and that’s extremely important.

For instance, Mr. Speaker, we’ve opened 22 youth wellness hubs, provided over $40 million to create mobile crisis response teams and expanded care for rural communities by creating new mobile mental health clinics. I’m proud to say that by the end of 2023 those investments will have supported the creation of over 500 new addiction treatment beds across the—

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

Mr. Dave Smith: Thank you to the associate minister, especially for the residential detox and residential treatment that is coming to Peterborough this fall because of the work that he has done.

Speaker, the opioid crisis is creating serious impacts on rural, remote and northern communities across our province. In northern Ontario, the population has unfortunately experienced higher rates of overdose than any other region in Ontario. With transportation being a significant barrier to accessing mental health and addictions services, many Ontarians who live in the north are looking to connect with care that’s closer to their homes. Our government must do all that we can to address the ongoing challenges in accessing service in northern communities.

Speaker, can the associate minister please share what our government is doing to ensure that all Ontarians have access to high-quality mental health and addictions care?

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Once again, thank you to the member for that question. Over 50% of the new beds and treatment spaces created by the Addictions Recovery Fund are going to the north, to Indigenous and rural communities.

This summer, I had the privilege of visiting Sioux Lookout for the opening of a new 37-bed treatment facility funded by a $4-million investment by our government. These new beds will allow local residents as well as members of the numerous Indigenous communities in northwest Ontario access to life-saving treatment and addictions services closer to their homes and to their loved ones.

Speaker, our goal is to ensure that everyone in Ontario has the support needed to live a happy and healthy life free from the pain of addiction. We’re going to continue making investments that are evidence-based, culturally appropriate and recovery-oriented, because we believe in ensuring that people with addictions get the support and the care they need where and when they need it, no matter where they are in the province.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes the time we have available for question period. This House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1158 to 1300.

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Ms. Donna Skelly: I beg leave to present a report on

Chapter 2: Court Operations (Volume 3: 2019 Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario) from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and move the adoption of its recommendations.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Skelly presents the committee’s report and moves the adoption of its recommendations.

Does the member wish to make a brief statement?

Ms. Donna Skelly: As Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, I am pleased to table the committee’s report today on

Chapter 2: Court Operations, from volume 3 of the 2019 Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the permanent membership of the committee and substitute members who participated in the public hearings and report-writing process. The committee extends its appreciation to officials from the Ministry of the Attorney General. The committee also acknowledges the assistance provided by the Office of the Attorney General, the Clerk of the Committee and legislative research.

With that, I move adjournment of the debate.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Debate adjourned.

Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I beg leave to present the First Report on Regulations 2023, from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and move the adoption of its recommendations.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. French presents the committee’s report and moves the adoption of its recommendations. Does the member wish to make a brief statement?

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I would like to thank all of the members of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for their work on this report. Also, I would like to thank the research officer and Clerk of the Committee for their assistance.

With that, I move adjournment of the debate.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Debate adjourned.

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Justice Policy and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Wai Lam (William) Wong): Your committee begs to report the following bill, as amended:

Bill 41,

An Act to amend the Consumer Reporting Act and the Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking Act, 2017 with respect to certain debts incurred in relation to human trafficking / Projet de loi 41, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les renseignements concernant le consommateur et la Loi de 2017 sur la prévention de la traite de personnes et les recours en la matière à l’égard de certaines dettes contractées dans un contexte de traite de personnes.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Agreed.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Wai Lam (William) Wong): Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill 65,

An Act to amend the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 / Projet de loi 65, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2016 sur la semaine du Souvenir.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Agreed.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Standing Committee on the Interior

Mr. Aris Babikian: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on the Interior and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Wai Lam (William) Wong): Mr. Babikian from the Standing Committee on the Interior presents the committee’s report as follows and moves its adoption:

Your committee begs to report the following bill, as amended:

Bill 31,

An Act to provide for an award for exceptional cadets / Projet de loi 31, Loi prévoyant la remise d’un prix aux cadets exceptionnels.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Agreed.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

MPP Jill Andrew: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Wai Lam (William) Wong): Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill 81,

An Act to proclaim Croatian Heritage Day / Loi proclamant le Jour du patrimoine croate.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Agreed.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Standing Committee on the Interior

Mr. Aris Babikian: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on the Interior and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Wai Lam (William) Wong): Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill 93,

An Act to enact Joshua’s Law (Lifejackets for Life), 2023 / Loi édictant la Loi Joshua de 2023 sur le port obligatoire du gilet de sauvetage par les enfants.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Agreed.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

MPP Jill Andrew: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Wai Lam (William) Wong): Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill 78,

An Act to proclaim Group of Seven Day / Loi proclamant le Jour du Groupe des Sept.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Agreed.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Mr. Matthew Rae: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Social Policy and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Wai Lam (William) Wong): Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill 99,

An Act to provide for safety measures respecting movable soccer goals / Loi prévoyant des mesures de sécurité pour les buts de soccer mobiles.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Agreed.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Introduction of Government Bills

Transportation for the Future Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 pour un réseau de transport orienté vers l’avenir

Miss Surma moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 131,

An Act to enact the GO Transit Station Funding Act, 2023 and to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006 / Projet de loi 131, Loi édictant la Loi de 2023 sur le financement des stations du réseau GO et modifiant la Loi de 2006 sur la cité de Toronto.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Would the minister care to briefly explain her bill?

Hon. Kinga Surma: Yes, I will. The intention of the bill, the Transportation for the Future Act, 2023, would help unlock transit-oriented communities along our GO rail system and then, of course, make transit a more convenient service for transit riders and residents in the GTA.

Introduction of Bills

An Act to reverse changes to the Greenbelt

Ms. Stiles moved first reading of the following bill:

An Act to reverse changes to the greenbelt.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

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

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the nays have it.

Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1310 to 1315.

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

Ms. Stiles has moved that leave be given to introduce a bill entitled

An Act to reverse changes to the greenbelt and that it now be read for the first time.

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

Ayes

Andrew, Jill

Armstrong, Teresa J.

Begum, Doly

Blais, Stephen

Bourgouin, Guy

Bowman, Stephanie

Brady, Bobbi Ann

Collard, Lucille

Fife, Catherine

Fraser, John

French, Jennifer K.

Glover, Chris

Hazell, Andrea

Hsu, Ted

Jama, Sarah

Karpoche, Bhutila

Kernaghan, Terence

Mamakwa, Sol

McCrimmon, Karen

McMahon, Mary-Margaret

Pasma, Chandra

Rakocevic, Tom

Sattler, Peggy

Schreiner, Mike

Shaw, Sandy

Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)

Stiles, Marit

Tabuns, Peter

Taylor, Monique

Vanthof, John

Vaugeois, Lise

West, Jamie

Wong-Tam, Kristyn

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): All those opposed to the motion will please rise one at a time and be counted by the Clerk.

Nays

Anand, Deepak

Babikian, Aris

Bailey, Robert

Barnes, Patrice

Bouma, Will

Bresee, Ric

Byers, Rick

Calandra, Paul

Cho, Stan

Coe, Lorne

Crawford, Stephen

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Dixon, Jess

Dowie, Andrew

Downey, Doug

Dunlop, Jill

Fedeli, Victor

Flack, Rob

Ford, Michael D.

Gallagher Murphy, Dawn

Ghamari, Goldie

Gill, Parm

Grewal, Hardeep Singh

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Mike

Hogarth, Christine

Holland, Kevin

Jones, Sylvia

Jones, Trevor

Jordan, John

Kanapathi, Logan

Leardi, Anthony

Lecce, Stephen

Lumsden, Neil

Martin, Robin

McCarthy, Todd J.

McGregor, Graham

Mulroney, Caroline

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pang, Billy

Parsa, Michael

Piccini, David

Pierre, Natalie

Pirie, George

Quinn, Nolan

Rae, Matthew

Romano, Ross

Sabawy, Sheref

Sandhu, Amarjot

Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh

Saunderson, Brian

Scott, Laurie

Skelly, Donna

Smith, Dave

Smith, David

Smith, Graydon

Surma, Kinga

Tangri, Nina

Thanigasalam, Vijay

Thompson, Lisa M.

Tibollo, Michael A.

Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.

Wai, Daisy

Williams, Charmaine A.

Yakabuski, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): The ayes are 33; the nays are 65.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I declare the most lost.

First reading negatived.

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Jour des Franco-Ontariens et des Franco-Ontariennes / Franco-Ontarian Day

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Monsieur le Président, je suis honorée de me présenter devant la Chambre aujourd’hui pour souligner le Jour des Franco-Ontariens et des Franco-Ontariennes. Cette journée symbolique nous donne l’occasion de célébrer la richesse et la diversité de nos communautés franco-ontariennes, et de reconnaître leur résilience, leur créativité et leur savoir-faire.

Chaque 25 septembre, nous soulignons les nombreuses contributions sociales, économiques et culturelles que les 650 000 francophones de l’Ontario apportent à leurs communautés, enrichissant ainsi la province dans son ensemble.

Merci beaucoup et bonne journée des Franco-Ontariens et des Franco-Ontariennes à toutes et à tous.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Responses?

M me Marit Stiles: Merci. Good afternoon, Speaker. Bonjour, tout le monde. Aujourd’hui, à l’occasion de la journée franco-ontarienne, nous célébrons les contributions des Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes dans cette province et dans tous les secteurs.

La semaine dernière, j’ai voyagé à Hearst, à Kapuskasing, à Sudbury, à Timmins, et j’ai parlé avec différents organismes—santé, éducation, syndicat—et j’ai rencontré beaucoup de personnes qui m’ont dit qu’il y a une crise maintenant dans les services pour les Franco-Ontariens et les Franco-Ontariennes.

C’est pourquoi il est si important d’avoir des chefs élus qui connaissent les aspects socioculturels uniques de la communauté francophone. Je suis très fière du travail au sein de notre équipe envers l’importance des matières francophones, et j’applaudis notre député provincial Guy Bourgouin, porte-parole du NPD pour les affaires francophones, qui s’assure toujours que les voix des Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes restent au centre des discussions.

As leader of the official opposition, I can tell you that I’m as disappointed as you that this government’s decision has been to cancel funding for a full French university in the north. In my travels to the north, which I just mentioned in French, I included a visit to the University of Sudbury, and I heard that need loud and clear.

À tous les Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes, ma promesse et mon assurance sont les suivantes : quand nous formerons le gouvernement en 2026, le NPD de l’Ontario créera une université francophone autonome à Sudbury qui répondra aux besoins de votre communauté.

Merci. Meegwetch. Thank you, everybody.

M. Guy Bourgouin: Il me fait toujours un plaisir de me lever en Chambre et surtout de parler ma langue natale en cette journée des Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes.

Vous avez entendu ma chef, qu’elle est venue faire une tournée dans ma région, à la grandeur du nord de l’Ontario, et que la réalité que vous entendez dans le sud de l’Ontario n’est pas la même. On a un gouvernement qui est déconnecté du Nord. On est comme l’enfant pauvre de l’Ontario, puis on se fait traiter comme l’enfant pauvre, en passant—puis encore plus quand tu es francophone.

On voit aussi que, dans ce qu’on vit, ça veut dire que le droit acquis d’avoir un service égal à celui de la majorité anglophone n’est pas respecté. On a des droits constitutionnels en éducation. On voit que nos écoles n’ont pas le financement nécessaire. On est obligé de se contenter des écoles qui ne sont même pas bonnes pour les anglophones? Mais à cause d’une pénurie d’écoles, on les prend, nous. On les prend, monsieur le Ministre—et je suis content que tu me regardes, puis j’espère que tu écoutes. Honnêtement, j’espère que tu écoutes parce que le message est autant pour toi.

Mais on se contente des écoles que les anglophones ne veulent plus avoir parce qu’on en a besoin. Oui, il y a eu des investissements. Il faut le reconnaître. Je n’ai pas peur de dire qu’ils ont investi puis qu’il y a de nouvelles écoles; c’est bien, mais on en a besoin de plus. On en a besoin de plus, puis la communauté en demande plus, parce qu’on est le conseil qui grossit le plus. Les francophones, ce sont les conseils qui grossissent le plus. On a besoin de plus de professeurs. On a une pénurie d’enseignants.

Va-t-il falloir que les conseils vous actionnent, comme le reste des Premières Nations l’ont fait? On va être mis à ce point-là de dire au gouvernement : « Vous ne remplissez pas votre obligation constitutionnelle envers notre communauté. » On est rendu là. Il y a des conseils qui le considèrent sérieusement : demander au gouvernement de se réveiller puis de répondre à notre besoin.

Je veux parler de l’Université de Sudbury. C’est un besoin de notre communauté. L’AFO est ici aujourd’hui. Une de leurs priorités, c’est l’Université de Sudbury. Ils l’ont dit aux ministres. Ils l’ont dit à la ministre des Collèges et Universités. Je me demande honnêtement si la ministre sait c’est quoi, un collège puis une université. Je me le demande sérieusement; il y a une différence entre les deux.

Mais de dire qu’on n’a pas les étudiants, que c’est un manque, que ce n’était pas justifié—l’université a répondu à tous les besoins que le gouvernement a demandé de cette université. Le recteur a donné le financement qui démontrait que c’était viable. Le montant d’étudiants qui viennent, l’avenir pour le besoin : ils ont tous les rapports. Bien, justement, vers 17 h, avant la fête du Canada, ils nous ont fait ça comme une bombe. Ils nous ont monté un beau bateau, je peux vous dire, moi. Ils ont monté un bateau à cette université-là; tout ce temps, ils travaillaient avec l’Université Laurentienne.

Puis la communauté a été très claire: la communauté n’a plus confiance en l’Université Laurentienne. On veut notre université pour, par et avec—pas d’autre chose. Pourquoi? On le mérite; on veut notre réseau—puis, une affaire que vous allez apprendre : les francophones n’en démordent pas. S’il y a de quoi que vous avez appris, ou que vous auriez dû apprendre, de Montfort, et aussi du jeudi noir—vous allez le vivre encore. Merci.

Motions

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding the Integrity Commissioner’s report dated August 30, 2023, and that the question be put on the motion without debate or amendment.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Calandra is seeking unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding the Integrity Commissioner’s report dated August 30, 2023, and that the question be put on the motion without debate or amendment. Agreed? I heard a no.

House sittings

Mr. Trevor Jones: Speaker, I move that when the House and committees adjourn on Thursday, September 28, 2023, they stand adjourned until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Jones has moved that when the House and committees adjourn on Thursday, September 28, 2023, they stand adjourned until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Petitions

M me France Gélinas: Ça me fait tellement plaisir de présenter ces pétitions, signées par des milliers de nord-ontariens et nord-ontariennes, qui disent :

« Alors que les Franco-Ontarien(ne)s du Nord ont travaillé pendant un siècle pour la création d’une institution d’enseignement supérieur francophone pour, par et avec les Franco-Ontarien(ne)s à travers l’Université de Sudbury; et

« Alors que des études ont démontré qu’à terme, l’Université de Sudbury générerait 89,3 millions de dollars pour la région; et

Ils et elles pétitionnent l’Assemblée législative « de garantir le financement de 10 millions de dollars par année tel que demandé par l’Université de Sudbury pour assurer l’avenir de l’Université de Sudbury, une université pour, par et avec les Franco-Ontarien(ne)s, et ce dès maintenant. »

J’appuie cette pétition. Je vais la signer, et je l’envoie à la table des greffiers.

School closures

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: This petition was spearheaded by Jennifer Bugden in Munster, along with a number of other parents. It’s called “Petition in Support of Reopening Munster Elementary School.” It has over 700 signatures so far, Madam Speaker. The petition reads as follows:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) made the decision to close Munster Elementary School in 2015 due to low enrolment, and a significant factor causing low enrolment was the OCDSB’s failure to offer early French immersion programs; and

“Whereas the closure of Munster Elementary School in 2015 has had a detrimental impact on the education and overall well-being of children in Munster Hamlet, Ottawa, and many community members have witnessed the hardships that Munster Hamlet’s children face on a daily basis due to the closure of Munster Elementary School, including but not limited to enduring long bus rides averaging 45 minutes each way; and

“Whereas reopening Munster Elementary School would significantly reduce travel time for Munster Hamlet’s children, allowing them to spend more time on their studies, extracurricular activities, and quality time with their friends and families; and

“Whereas the reopening of Munster Elementary School would foster a stronger sense of community among parents, students, educators and community organizations and would provide opportunities for local engagement and collaboration in shaping the educational experience of Munster Hamlet’s children; and

“Whereas by reopening Munster Elementary School, Munster Hamlet’s children would receive the individual attention they need to thrive academically in a local setting; and

“Whereas a thriving local school has positive economic implications for the entire community, attracting families looking to settle in an area with strong educational infrastructure and contributing to increased property values; and

“Whereas the OCDSB has no interest in reopening Munster Elementary School and is preventing public use by the community for other local events, in order to make the case that the facility is unused and must be sold to a private entity to be used for non-educational purposes;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“That the Minister of Education direct the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board to either provide a plan to reopen Munster Elementary School or, if the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board refuses to reopen Munster Elementary School, to make use of

section 194 of the Education Act, R.S.O 1990, to allow other school boards,” for example, French and Catholic, “to purchase the property so that they can reopen the empty school in Munster Hamlet, Ottawa.”

I proudly affix my signature to this petition and will be giving it to page James, who, by the way, is from Carleton.

M. Guy Bourgouin: « À l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario »—et, je devrais dire : « Pétition pour appuyer l’Université de Sudbury », excusez.

« À l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario :

« Alors que les Franco-Ontarien(ne)s du Nord ont travaillé pendant un siècle pour la création d’une institution d’enseignement supérieur francophone pour, par et avec les Franco-Ontarien(ne)s à travers l’Université de Sudbury; et

« Alors que des études ont démontré qu’à terme, l’Université de Sudbury générerait 89,3 millions de dollars pour la région; et

« Nous, soussignés, pétitionnons l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario : de garantir le financement de 10 millions de dollars par année tel que demandé par l’Université de Sudbury pour assurer l’avenir de l’Université de Sudbury, une université pour, par et avec les Franco-Ontarien(ne)s, et ce dès maintenant. »

Je supporte cette pétition. Ça me fait plaisir de la signer et de la remettre au page Minuka pour l’amener à la table des greffiers.

Labour legislation

MPP Jill Andrew: This petition is “Pass Anti-Scab Labour Legislation.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the use of replacement workers undermines workers’ collective power, unnecessarily prolongs labour disputes, and removes the essential power that the withdrawal of labour is supposed to give workers to help end a dispute, that is, the ability to apply economic pressure;

“Whereas the use of scab labour contributes to higher-conflict picket lines, jeopardizes workplace safety, destabilizes normalized labour relations between workers and their employers and removes the employer incentive to negotiate and settle fair contracts; and

“Whereas strong and fair anti-scab legislation will help lead to shorter labour disputes, safer workplaces, and less hostile picket lines;

“Whereas similar legislation has been introduced in British Columbia and Quebec with no increases to the number of strike or lockout days;

“Whereas Ontario had anti-scab legislation under an NDP government, that was unfortunately ripped away from workers by the Harris Conservatives;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To prohibit employers from using replacement labour for the duration of any legal strike or lockout, except for very limited use to undertake essential maintenance work to protect the safety and integrity of the workplace;

“To prohibit employers from using both external and internal replacement workers;

“To include significant financial penalties for employers who defy the anti-scab legislation; and

“To support Ontario’s workers and pass anti-scab labour legislation, like the Ontario NDP Bill 90, the Anti-Scab Labour Act, 2023.”

I absolutely agree with this and am signing it and thinking of every ACTRA member in Toronto–St. Paul’s.

School boards

Mr. Lorne Coe: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics are fundamental for student achievement; and too many school boards are jeopardizing student achievement by straying away from teaching the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics; and parents are being bullied and denied representation at school board meetings, and trustees are being bullied by other trustees;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“That the Legislative Assembly of Ontario authorize the Minister of Education to set provincial priorities in education in the area of student achievement, and authorize the Minister of Education to issue policies and guidelines setting out the training to be completed by board members, directors of education, supervisory officers and superintendents, and require boards to adopt codes of conduct that apply to members of the board.”

Speaker, I agree with the content of this particular petition. I’m going to affix my signature and date to it and provide it to page Ella.

MPP Jamie West: Cette pétition s’appelle « Appuyer l’Université de Sudbury.

« À l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario :

« Alors que les Franco-Ontarien(ne)s du Nord ont travaillé pendant un siècle pour la création d’une institution d’enseignement supérieur francophone pour, par et avec les Franco-Ontarien(ne)s à travers l’Université de Sudbury; et

« Alors que des études ont démontré qu’à terme, l’Université de Sudbury générerait 89,3 millions de dollars pour la région; et

« Nous, soussignés, pétitionnons l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario : de garantir le financement de 10 millions de dollars par année tel que demandé par l’Université de Sudbury pour assurer l’avenir de l’Université de Sudbury, une université pour, par et avec les Franco-Ontarien(ne)s, et ce dès maintenant. »

Moi, j’aime bien cette pétition. J’y affixe mon nom et la donne à la table avec la page Sophia.

Tenant protection

MPP Jill Andrew: This petition is called “Bring Back Rent Control.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the” Conservative “government cancelled rent control on units built after November 2018;

“Whereas the cost to rent a home has never been higher;

“Whereas people are being forced to leave their communities because decent, affordable homes are increasingly out of reach;

“Whereas the rent control for all units act, 2022, will ensure tenants are not gouged on rent each year;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to protect tenants from predatory rent increases and pass the NDP rent control for all units act today to ensure renters can live in safe and affordable homes.”

I couldn’t agree more with this, especially as tenants in St. Paul’s are hit by apartments with no rent controls.

Labour legislation

MPP Jamie West: This petition is entitled “Enact Anti-Scab Labour Law.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas strikes and lockouts are rare: on average, 97% of collective agreements are negotiated without work disruption; and

“Whereas anti-replacement workers laws have existed in Quebec since 1978,” as well as “in British Columbia since 1993, and in Ontario under the NDP government,” which “was repealed by the Harris conservative government;

“Whereas anti-scab legislation has reduced the length and divisiveness of labour disputes; and

“Whereas the use of scab labour during a strike or lockout is damaging to the social fabric of a community in the short” term and the “long term, as well as the well-being of its residents;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To pass the anti-scab labour bill to ban the use of replacement workers during a strike or lockout.”

I support this petition wholeheartedly. I have been on a picket line while scabs crossed the picket line. I will affix my signature and provide it to Minuka for the tabling.

Health care

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I have a very apropos petition to present today, entitled “Health Care is Not for Sale.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontarians get health care based on their needs, not their ability to pay;

“Whereas the Ford government wants to privatize our health care system;

“Whereas privatization will bleed nurses, doctors and PSWs out of our public hospitals and will download costs to patients;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately stop all plans to privatize Ontario’s health care system, and fix the crisis in health care by:

“—repealing Bill 124 to help recruit, retain, return and respect health care workers with better pay and better working conditions;

“—licensing tens of thousands of internationally educated nurses and other health care professionals already in Ontario; and

“—funding and fully utilizing public operating rooms.”

I fully support this petition, affix my signature, and will send it to the table with page Sofia.

Orders of the Day

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

Mr. Piccini moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 79,

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

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): I recognize the minister.

Hon. David Piccini: I’m happy to rise to address third reading of Bill 79, the Working for Workers Act, 2023. Before I begin, I would like to let you know, Speaker, that I will divide my time with parliamentary assistants the member for Mississauga–Malton and the member for Scarborough Centre.

I would like to start by saying that this is the first day on the job as minister in this portfolio. I would like to first just start by thanking the incredible team at MECP, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Both on the department side and on the ministry side, they’ve done a phenomenal job. It’s been an honour working with each and every one of them. I’ll miss them greatly. But Speaker, I’m very excited to start in this new role, and I’d like to especially thank everybody at the department and on staff who have been working very hard on Bill 79.

I’d also like to say a special thank you to my predecessor, former minister Monte McNaughton. I think it goes without saying he’s been a remarkable champion for workers in the province of Ontario—someone who understands that to build the highways, roads and bridges we need, to build the homes that we need, the skyscrapers downtown that are going to house thousands of new people looking for the dream of home or apartment ownership, it’s going to require workers and a robust labour force. It’s going to require working with the federal government to increase immigration targets, all of which he has done.

I would like to say a special thank you. I wish you all the best, Monte, in your exciting next chapter. And also a profound thank you to Premier Ford for entrusting this important file to me.

Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is taking unprecedented action to move and improve the lives of workers and make Ontario the best place to live, work and raise a family. I’m glad to have this opportunity to tell you about this exciting bill, helping workers find better jobs and bigger paycheques and addressing the historic labour shortages many businesses in our province face. You don’t need to look very far. In my own community, go into Jebco, go to Mirmil, go to any of the employers—Horizon Plastics, Sabic, Protoplast—they’re all looking for workers.

This is something we see across Ontario; this isn’t unique to me. We had the mayor of Windsor down—historic investments thanks to this government, this Premier. We’re going to need workers, Speaker.

And isn’t it a nice thing to see, from under the previous Liberal government, where jobs were fleeing and where businesses were shutting down and people were getting pink slips, to today. The signs that I see—more than even signs that I had up during the election: “Help wanted,” “Help wanted,” “Help wanted” everywhere, because Ontario is booming again and because we’re building things in this great province.

We’re protecting vulnerable workers, Speaker, standing up for those who protect us and bringing new transparency when workers start a new job or have the unfortunate experience of