role="main" class="main-container container js-quickedit-main-content" id="main-content">

April 19, 2021

42nd Parliament, 1st Session

< Previous sitting day

Next sitting day >

Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2021-Apr-19 (PDF)

L248 - Mon 19 Apr 2021 / Lun 19 avr 2021

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 19 April 2021 Lundi 19 avril 2021

Private Members’ Public Business

Persian Heritage Month Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur le Mois du patrimoine perse

Orders of the Day

Ontario Day Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur le Jour de l’Ontario

Members’ Statements

COVID-19 immunization

Infrastructure funding

COVID-19 response

Agricultural colleges

COVID-19 response

Public transit

Infrastructure funding

COVID-19 response

Community services

COVID-19 immunization

Holocaust memorial

Question Period

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 immunization

COVID-19 immunization

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 immunization

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 response

COVID-19 response

Private members’ public business

Deferred Votes

Executive Council Amendment Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 modifiant la

Loi sur le Conseil exécutif

Maternal Mental Health Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur la santé mentale maternelle

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Introduction of Bills

Environmental Protection Amendment Act (Microplastics Filters for Washing Machines), 2021 / Loi de 2021 modifiant la

Loi sur la protection de l’environnement (filtres à microplastiques pour machines à laver)

Protecting Seniors’ Rights in Care Homes Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur la protection des droits des personnes âgées dans les maisons de soins

Petitions

Land use planning

Places of religious worship

Optometry services

Optometry services

Orders of the Day

Supporting Recovery and Competitiveness Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur le soutien à la relance et à la compétitivité

Royal assent / Sanction royale

Supporting Recovery and Competitiveness Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur le soutien à la relance et à la compétitivité

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Private Members’ Public Business

Persian Heritage Month Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur le Mois du patrimoine perse

Mr. Parsa moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 271,

An Act to proclaim the month of March as Persian Heritage Month / Projet de loi 271, Loi proclamant le mois de mars Mois du patrimoine perse.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to standing order 101, the member has 12 minutes for his presentation.

Mr. Michael Parsa: Speaker, it really is a pleasure to rise in the House today to speak to Bill 271,

An Act to proclaim the month of March as Persian Heritage Month. This morning, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Carleton, who is co-sponsoring this bill with me, and who is also a proud Canadian of Persian decent.

Speaker, at this time, I want to explain why I am putting this bill forward and why it’s so significant to members of the Persian Canadian community.

As many in this House may know, peoples of Persian decent are the proud inheritors of a history and culture that spans across thousands of years. It is one of the oldest in history, and at its height in 500 BCE, its controlling influence reached as far as Libya and Greece to the west and India and China to the east.

During this period of time, the Persian civilization made contributions to humanity that have shaped much of how we live our lives today. For instance, the first known iteration of a declaration of universal human rights was set down by the Persian King Cyrus the Great in the sixth century BCE. The Cyrus Cylinder, as it has come to be known, was the first such work of its kind, and has been the foundational inspiration of what we have come to know as universal human rights.

Concepts such as religious tolerance, racial equality and freedom from slavery were all decreed from this charter and played an important role in establishing the basis of what we have come to know as a free and democratic society. This declaration has stood the test of time as perhaps one of the most significant contributions of Persian culture to mankind. However, it is by no means the only one.

Another example of a creation we can credit the ancient Persians with is the way we receive our mail. The creation of the world’s first postal code system can be credited to the creative ingenuity of Persians and the necessity of having a swift method of delivering mail across a vast empire—although I’m pretty sure the ancient Persians would have had second thoughts if they could predict the creation of junk mail. But I digress.

The list of modern technologies and systems that have their roots in the ancient Persian culture are endless. For instance, the concept of refrigeration, known back then as yakhchāl, which literally translates to “ice pit,” was the forefather of modern-day refrigeration. So, yes, we owe our modern-day abilities to have Thanksgiving turkey all weekend to the Persians and the ancient Persians. Coincidentally, the ancient Persians also created ice cream, which, in my biased opinion, is perhaps our best creation, but I’ll leave that to everyone else to judge.

Speaker, I can go on and on about all the amazing inventions that the ancient Persians gave to the world, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the more contemporary contributions of peoples of Iranian descent.

Among the sea of notable individuals of Iranian descent, there are a few who stand out from the rest because of their monumental accomplishments. For instance, the late Maryam Mirzakhani is the first and only female to have ever been awarded the prestigious Fields Medal for mathematics, a truly remarkable accomplishment. Anousheh Ansari was the first female private space explorer to travel to space. Pierre Omidyar created and founded one of the biggest tech companies in the world, eBay. Right here in Canada, the Ghermezian family were the longest-running title holders for having built two of the biggest malls in the world: the Mall of America and the West Edmonton Mall.

Speaker, these are just a few of the countless accomplishments of individuals of Iranian descent who have done truly remarkable things. There are countless others just like these individuals who have significantly contributed to every field known to man. Whether it be in the arts, academia, engineering, business, science, theatre and even politics, you’ll find an individual of Iranian descent always striving for the stars.

Speaker, right here in Ontario, over 150,000 individuals of Persian descent call this great province home. Many of them, like me and my family, came to this country decades ago in search of a better life and a brighter future. Canada and Ontario opened their arms to us and thousands of families, individuals like us, by giving us an opportunity to start our lives all over again. We were provided with boundless opportunities that have spurred the success of a thriving Persian Canadian community that has not skipped a step in making sure they give back to a province and country that have given them so much.

Everywhere you look, Canadians of Persian descent have risen to the upper echelons of their respective fields and have worked to enrich their surroundings by contributing to them as best as they can. Whether it be through their work or through their personal interactions, there’s always a flair and sparkle that a Canadian Iranian brings to the table. But don’t take my word for it: Just attend a Persian dinner party, or better yet, go to one of the countless Nowruz celebrations which take place throughout the month of March.

If there is a time of year when Persian Canadians make their presence known, especially right here in Ontario, it’s definitely during Persian New Year in March. The ancient customs, music and dancing that are on display during this time of year are what truly differentiate Iranians from the rest. As I’ve mentioned before many times in this House, they definitely know how to throw a party.

And the food: What can I say about the food? If you haven’t had Persian food, you don’t know what you’re missing. There is simply nothing like it in the world. And lucky for Ontarians, there is no shortage of Persian restaurants in this province; in particular, right here in the GTA.

Speaker, I just want to circle back to why I’m bringing this bill forward and what it would mean to the many Iranian Canadians living here in the province of Ontario. At the core of this bill is the essence of recognition for a community of peoples who are hard-working citizens with a rich pedigree of history and traditions. At heart, every Persian Canadian is a poet, historian and humanist, and it is through this lens that they often interact with the world around them.

So for me, like many other Persian Canadians, recognizing Persian heritage means that I’m able to honour my own family, traditions and heritage while also celebrating the place that makes it all possible, right here in the beautiful province of Ontario.

On that note, I’d like to end with a quote from one of my favourite poets, which I think reflects the theme of gratitude. Rumi said:

Whatever happens to you ...

Don’t fall in despair,

Even if all the doors are closed ...

A secret path will be there for you that no one knows,

You can’t see it yet ...

But so many paradises are at the end of this path ...

Be grateful ...

It is easy to thank after obtaining what you want ...

Thank before having what you want.

Speaker, I want to thank every one of my colleagues, I want to thank you, and I look forward to celebrating Persian Heritage Month with all of you once this has passed.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Mr. Joel Harden: Thank you to my friend MPP Parsa for introducing this bill. I think it’s terrific that we’re to take a moment to acknowledge those of Persian heritage in the month of March in this province. I congratulate the member for putting this forward.

In the time I have to speak to this bill, what I’d like to talk about are some of the fantastic lessons I’ve had occasion to learn from friends who are in the Iranian diaspora here as Persian Canadians, who brought stories to me from their homeland. I had the great fortune to go to school at York University and study political science with people from all over the world, including from Iran.

What I learned very quickly from my Iranian friends and from Persian friends, as a student of Canadian history, is that we put up with too much from government sometimes. There is a feistiness and a resilience to Iranian civil society that I think most Canadians don’t understand, and I want to talk about that for a bit as we celebrate what Persians have brought to our country. Every wave of immigration that arrives in Canada brings its own gift. So I want to talk about the resilience of Iranian civil society and what people right now are even engaged in, just so Canadians are aware.

I think many Canadians look to Iran right now, given the nature of global politics, and see a poor people suffering under a regime that doesn’t allow them much freedom of expression. There’s often this attitude that Iranian Canadians are somehow to be pitied. I want to say to every single Canadian watching this speech that I’m about to make in reading MPP Parsa’s bill, you have a lot to learn from Iranians. You have a lot to learn from the Persian tradition of politics.

My friend talked about the historic millennia-old contributions that Persian society has made to the world. I want to talk about the gift of resistance that was brought to the world, starting in 1908, when the British discovered oil in what we now call Iran. From the time the British discovered oil in Iran, Britain took it upon itself to pay Iran over the next 25 years the equivalent of £16 million while taking for themselves £200 million.

This legacy of colonialism that we know too well, as my friend MPP Mamakwa says to us many times in this place, was the legacy that Iranians had to struggle with, Persians had to struggle with. What did they do?

They organized for decades, and they elected a popular Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, who was deposed from power in 1953, because sadly the ancestry of this Legislature, the British government, and the American government of the day did not want to see a Prime Minister in power who wanted to bring those oil fields into popular ownership for the people of that territory so that the development of those resources would help people in those areas.

The UK and US governments, we now know from historical record, collaborated to depose Mohammad Mosaddegh and install a shah who ruled with absolute terror for the decades after. And what did the Iranian people do? What did Persian folks do? They organized. They fought. They resisted.

The thing that people are probably more familiar with is the green revolution—people thought about it as a Twitter revolution—in 2008-09. People I know who were there told me explicitly, “This was not a Twitter revolution.” This was community organizing replicating on the example of the shoras, insisting upon liberty, freedom of expression and freedom of organizing. I think every Canadian should look at that.

I had occasion on my drive down here to talk to two friends, Saman and Mehdi, and both of them are telling me that pensioners, right now, in Iran are organizing across the country because their pension cheques have been slashed by the regime; that the global sanctions brought to bear on Iran have not hurt the regime in Iran, but they have certainly hurt regular people, particularly pensioners. Are pensioners putting up with it? No, they are not. In keeping with great Persian political traditions, they are organizing.

I take my hat off to every single person in the Iranian diaspora helping and encouraging their friends at home.

I ask our own Prime Minister to think seriously about the impacts of those sanctions on the people of Iran right now, and the pensioners who deserve their freedom, who deserve the wage they earned for building that society up—inasmuch as we respect our folks here.

I want to thank my friend for introducing this legislation. I think it’s terrific that we’ll have a month to celebrate, Persian Heritage Month. I hope—as a white Canadian with no ties to Iran, who has tried to learn from friends of mine who have lived there, whose families trace back to there—I’ve been able to communicate what Canadians can learn. Maybe we can take this month as an opportunity to awaken ourselves, because we need civic engagement. We need political participation now more than ever.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: It’s good to be standing with legislators today to highlight this important bill, and to thank my colleague the member from Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill for his leadership in bringing it forward and celebrating the incredible contributions Persian Canadians have made, going back to the first immigrants who came to the shores of this country in 1901.

Speaker, as the son of immigrants and someone who is proud to represent their values in this chamber, I think this bill resonates most with me, appreciating full well the story of enterprising immigrants choosing Canada as a safe haven for freedom—a country that represents the values that unite us as Canadians, and values that are wholeheartedly embraced by Canada’s Persian community, a community that has made a difference. Considering that over 117,000 Ontarians of Persian descent are living, working, raising their families, and contributing to our economies and our societies, we are incredibly better off for their story.

I believe that legislation like this, the Persian Heritage Month Act, serves an important purpose to remind us, as an affirmation, of the contribution Persian Canadians have made in every field of human endeavour. It also reminds us, I think, as somewhat alluded to by the member opposite, that components of Ontario’s civil society are diverse and come from every corner of the world.

Madam Speaker, everyone deserves to be treated with the universal principle of freedom.

As the member from King–Vaughan, with a growing Persian community—neighbours with my colleague from Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill—I can appreciate full well why they chose this country.

Like many immigrant parents, Persian Canadians have worked hard. They have played by the rules. They have made countless sacrifices, especially now, during the time of this pandemic.

I believe that all new Canadians share a unique understanding with each other, regardless of their religious or ethnic origin, because they faced similar circumstances when they came to this country.

You will not find any more determined opponents of authoritarianism than those Persian Canadians we know, who are very much committed to the values of freedom. It’s why they chose this country. It’s why they continue to act in the pursuit of liberty in all regions of the world. Speaker, these folks came to this country in search of the Canadian dream. They came here to get away from the despots back in Tehran.

It’s important to remember that the Persian diaspora we speak of is freedom-loving. They have made a difference in our economy, in our politics, in law, in science and the arts. This civilization, for a millennium, has contributed to the development of our world.

Iran’s loss has been Canada’s gain, because Persian Canadians are very proud members of this truly beautiful, pluralistic mosaic that we call our country. This bill serves as a recognition of their sacrifice.

Right around this time in March, some weeks ago, we celebrated, with the Persian community, with the member from Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill, Nowruz—worldwide, on March 20, the first day of spring. I think the timing of this bill, reflecting the principles of Nowruz, of rebirth and the triumph of good over evil, is a very promising development—and a very well-timed introduction of this bill.

I want to thank the member from Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill for everything he has done to embrace the values of the community and to ensure that his forefathers and foremothers, those who have come to this country, those who have worked hard to build this country, get recognized for generations.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I want to thank everyone in the Legislature, especially the colleague from Ottawa Centre, for giving us really interesting information about the politics behind the Persian people and how they had to fight for what they believed in in their country.

Speaker, I do support this bill because it’s going to establish Persian Heritage Month—especially considering that March is a special month for Persian folks. I want to talk about why that’s so significant. It’s especially important to my community in London.

Just over a year ago, the Iranian community in my city was grieving after a plane carrying 176 passengers from Tehran to Canada crashed moments after taking off. In the plane, there were four students at Western University. Allow me to read an excerpt from the Global News

article reporting on the one-year anniversary of the tragic event:

“Gone but not forgotten, a year after four Western University students were killed in the crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, their memory and the possibility of what could have been are still very much alive.

“Ghazal Nourian, Milad Nahavandi and Hadis Hayatdavoudi were all finishing PhDs in the sciences. Sajedeh Saraeian was an incoming master’s student about to start her studies in chemical engineering. Her husband, Mohammad Javad Mianji, was also killed in the crash.

“‘It’s been a year and it seems as fresh as yesterday. We still think of her a lot,’ said Jamie Noel, an assistant professor of chemistry at Western....

“Because of the coronavirus gathering restriction, Noel said it would be hard for people to get together for such an ‘emotional situation’ without being able to comfort one another, so he said each will mark the anniversary in their own way.”

There was so much life and potential that we lost in our community when the flight went down, and this community hasn’t been able to properly grieve or mark the anniversary due to the pandemic.

It is a good step to recognize the Persian Heritage Month Act. We need to have it for the good things that have happened in the Iranian diaspora, and also for the tragic things that we must remember and learn from. I think this bill is a good first step, because it’s showing the approximately 100,000 members of the Persian community in Ontario that they do matter.

It’s important to note that in recent immigration populations, as of 2016, Iranians are among the highest to settle in the province, with nearly 21,000 calling Ontario home since 2011.

Another way we can support the Persian community is to be serious about combatting racism and rooting it out of provincial systems. We know that exists. Ontario could be doing so much more to stop racism and discrimination in its forms. Instead of moving forward in the fight against racism and discrimination, we know that this government dragged us backwards and cut the Anti-Racism Directorate. That would have been a very important step in the context of life, of what happens every day, but especially during the coronavirus—how that could have helped so many people who are victims of racism.

Another step, and the member mentioned it—he talked about Persian restaurants throughout Ontario, how there’s not a shortage of them and how great the food is. A lot of those Persian restaurants are owned and operated by small businesses. Another step in supporting this community is honouring their contributions to our province and ensuring their hard work doesn’t go unappreciated by supporting small business. They need to make sure that not only do they survive the pandemic, but they come out thriving.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said it wants all governments to look at “lockdown alternatives and increased financial support for small businesses” as several jurisdictions move to tougher restrictions. Small businesses did their part by hiring staff, making structural changes for the sake of safety and stocking up in hopes of customers returning, only to be shut down all over again. The province needs to compensate them to cover their rent, utilities and other costs for the duration of the lockdown. The provincial government has repeatedly dropped the ball on curbing the pandemic. Small businesses have to pay the price, and that’s not right.

As the member said, there are so many small businesses out there, and when we’re talking in the context of the Persian community, there are a lot of people who own small businesses, who keep our local neighbourhoods thriving and alive and contribute so much by hiring people.

The Persian Heritage Month Act is a good first step and I do support it. I’m glad it’s going to honour the Persian people. I thank everyone today for participating in this debate, and I hope your act passes so that we can actually put words into action to help the Persian Heritage Month Act move along.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: I rise today to speak in support of Bill 271,

An Act to proclaim the month of March as Persian Heritage Month, brought forward by my good friends and colleagues the member for Carleton and the member for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill.

Speaker, I have said many times in this House that Ontario is proudly one of the most diverse jurisdictions in Canada, if not the whole world. I truly believe the rich mosaic of cultures and traditions we experience here is what makes this province such a great place to live and work.

Persian Heritage Month will highlight and celebrate a cultural group that has made countless contributions to the fabric of Ontario. Persian Ontarians like my colleagues are serving in government, health care, transportation, law, education, trades, infrastructure and any sector you can think of. I’m glad my Persian neighbours, friends and colleagues are here doing their

part in making Ontario the best province it can be.

I appreciate that Persian Ontarians have been so diligent in bringing their wonderful cuisine to our province so we can all enjoy the flavour and variety of Persian food in many restaurants all across this province.

Speaker, have you seen what Persian cuisine does with pomegranate? I have seen that. One of my favourite dishes is kebab with a pomegranate sauce that is indescribably delicious—honestly, mouth-watering delicious. I love it. I highly recommend that. If you and members gathered here and those watching on TV or online haven’t tried the fesenjan at Shahyad Kababsaray in my riding of Mississauga East–Cooksville, you are definitely missing out.

If you are wondering what would be nice to have for dinner this week, I encourage you to check out your local Persian restaurant.

In all sincerity, the Persian community is an integral part of Ontario, and I am all for celebrating their presence and contributions by proclaiming the month of March as Persian Heritage Month.

Diversity is our strength here in Ontario.

I want to once again thank the members for their collective effort in bringing this great bill to the floor.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Mr. Stan Cho: Good morning to everybody. Dorood. Speaker, to you: Haletun chetore? It’s an honour to rise today to speak in favour of my colleague and friend’s private member’s bill to declare March Persian Heritage Month. I want to thank the member from Carleton and the member from Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill for bringing this bill forward.

I think all members of this House will agree that, objectively, Willowdale is the best neighbourhood in the world, but there might be some debate as to why that is. Certainly, part of that debate has to include that Willowdale is very much the world in one neighbourhood. Two of its largest constituencies are Korean Canadians and Iranian Canadians. I think my colleague and my friend will agree that these two cultures really do get along. You see evidence of that up and down Yonge Street. But why do we have a cordial relationship? One can make the argument that we have a long relationship.

That relationship certainly extends back not just centuries, but millennia—in fact, to the Silla dynasty, nearly 1,500 years ago. Even in the year I was born, in 1977, a little known fact—

Mr. Mike Harris: God, you’re old.

Mr. Stan Cho: Yes, I am old. Thank you for that.

A little-known fact is that back in 1977, the Korean government named a street in Seoul, its capital, Tehran Street, and in a friendly gesture back, the government of Iran named a street in Tehran Seoul Street—two streets that still exist to this day.

We’ve heard members talk about the rich, storied culture and art history, and that certainly has something to do with it, but I think there are other reasons why the two exist in harmony. One of them has to be the values that these two cultures represent of discipline, of respect for our seniors, of taking care of those who are important to you and always working hard. I think no further than to two constituents in Willowdale, John Ko and David Seo, tae kwon do fourth-dan masters who have a tae kwon do studio in Willowdale.

They say that some of their best students are those of Persian descent, because they work hard, they are disciplined and they show that respect—three key pillars of the martial art of tae kwon do.

Speaker, I think one of the things that unites Iranian Canadians and Korean Canadians—and we’ve spoken about it in the House at length today—has to be the food. In Willowdale, you can go to one restaurant and get a kebab and sabzi polo, and walk next door and get bibimbap and kalbi. These are absolutely delicious.

I do want to talk about the Korean dish of nurungji. Nurungji is created when you cook rice and you have the crispy parts left at the bottom of the pot. You’re not going to see this on a menu at a Korean restaurant, because this is the stuff the restaurant owners keep for themselves and put on the tables of their families. The Persians, I have to say, have their version. It’s called tahdig. Tahdig is prepared by taking basmati rice, rinsing it, salting it, parboiling it and removing the rice. Then, at the bottom of the pot, you add some vegetable oil, some ghee and some butter.

You add the parboiled rice back in, you add herbs and spices like saffron, and then you leave the top of the pot slightly ajar so that the moisture escapes. What happens as a result is that at the bottom, the rice turns into this crispy, amazing, delicious treat that you also won’t find on any menu of a Persian restaurant, because I know Persian families are saving this for themselves. I will say this, at the risk of my mother being very offended: The Persians do tahdig better than the Koreans do nurungji, Speaker. It is a food that unites us in Willowdale.

I am going to support, and I am proud to support, this bill to declare March Persian Heritage Month.

My offer to those watching at home, if I made you thoroughly hungry and you can’t wait until next March to enjoy these delicacies: Come for a walk on Yonge Street. Start at Steeles and walk all the way down, and you will see fine establishments like Khorak Supermarket. You will see Korean groceries next to these beautiful Persian restaurants. You can get the sabzi polo at Gol and a grill down at Spring Garden. Speaker, come enjoy what Willowdale has to offer. It is the very best of Persian culture and Persian cuisine.

It is with great pride, great honour that I will absolutely be supporting my colleague and my friend’s private member’s bill to declare March Persian Heritage Month.

To all of you watching from home, merci, and we’ll see you soon. Thank you so much.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate? Further debate?

I return to the member for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill.

Mr. Michael Parsa: I want to start by thanking my friends and colleagues from Ottawa Centre, King–Vaughan, London–Fanshawe, Mississauga East–Cooksville and, of course, Willowdale. Thank you very much for all your supportive and kind words.

The importance of this bill at this time for our community speaks volumes.

Just earlier, my colleague across referenced the downing of the plane. It wasn’t a plane crash; it was the downing of a plane by a regime that does not respect democracy.

We talk about having Iranians come to Canada for a better life. It’s true. If you look at every walk of life, whether it’s academia or in business—you will see Iranians leading the charge or being strong supporters and leaders in every sector.

As I’ve said many, many times, I’m very proud of the contributions Iranian Canadians have made. This bill will allow us to recognize the contributions of the many Iranian Canadians who are living here in the province of Ontario.

My colleague referenced small businesses. It’s very true: The sense of entrepreneurship by Iranian Canadians—they’re very loud and proud about it. They love contributing; they love giving back to a country and a province that have given them so much. I think by having the month of March declared as Persian Heritage Month, it’s a gesture for us to say we recognize their contributions, we thank them for their contributions, and we look forward to celebrating with every Iranian Canadian.

Only in this part of the world, only in this province do we have—and I mentioned this in committee when my colleagues asked me questions. I said this doesn’t happen in other parts of the world. Only in Canada do we embrace and celebrate our differences, and it’s something that actually brings us closer; in parts of the world that don’t, usually differences divide people and separate people—but not in this province, not in the greatest country in the world, Canada.

I thank each and every one of my colleagues for their support of this bill.

I look forward to celebrating Persian Heritage Month with all of you.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Mr. Parsa has moved second reading of Bill 271,

An Act to proclaim the month of March as Persian Heritage Month. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Pursuant to standing order 101(h), the bill is referred to the Committee of the Whole House—I recognize the member for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill.

Mr. Michael Parsa: Thank you, Speaker. To the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills, please.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Is the majority in favour of the bill being referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills? Agreed.

This bill is referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

Orders of the Day

Ontario Day Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur le Jour de l’Ontario

Mr. Parsa moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 173,

An Act to proclaim Ontario Day / Projet de loi 173, Loi proclamant le Jour de l’Ontario.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Mr. Michael Parsa: When this bill was presented to committee, I truly enjoyed listening to my colleagues from all sides as we talked about what Ontario means to each and every one of us.

When I put this bill forward, it was a way for me to recognize, as I said previously, that we do live in the greatest country in the world. I have proudly said this, and I scream it for a reason. We want people to know how we appreciate the fact that this country and this province opened their arms to me and my family and literally have given us everything we have. Within the greatest country in the world, there’s this province that’s truly unique to the rest of the country, one that allows all of us to be able to live, work, live in democracy, practise our own faith and our own religion, all in peace and harmony. As I said before, that doesn’t happen everywhere.

When you look at the province of Ontario and compare it to other provinces—we have some of the best all across this country, but the uniqueness of this province truly deserves for us to be able to celebrate it. When it comes to some of our political leaders, people in academia and people in sports, for example—with a population of almost 38 million, we’ve done a lot and we’ve achieved a lot here. Some of the people who have contributed to our country and what has made this country so great come from right here in Ontario.

For me and my family—again, having gotten literally everything we have because of this country and this province, it’s very important for us to take every opportunity, to take every chance to celebrate what makes our province so great.

In committee, I heard one of my colleagues talk about the fact that this sort of bill allows us to get to know each other better. One of my colleagues from the opposition in committee said, “I had never gone to an event that was different than how I grew up here in this part of the province. Recently, it has allowed me to be able to go in and learn more about the people who are living in this culture in this riding”—and that’s what an Ontario Day bill will do.

Hopefully, when and if this passes, the very first day of Ontario Day—to everybody, it will mean something different, and it could mean something different, and that’s okay. But for me, this first Ontario Day is going to be a recognition of my deepest gratitude and thanks to all the front-line workers in the province of Ontario, who have done so much in the last 13 or 14 months for the rest of us.

Every single front-line worker, whether it’s in the hospitals, the doctors and the nurses, the PSWs, the clerks in the grocery stores—when this becomes law and it passes, and hopefully it does, I will be thinking about them on Ontario Day and thanking them for everything they have done for us throughout this pandemic. At a time when we were retreating, when we were told to stay home and stay safe, they went to the front lines to protect us.

Although this, again, could mean something different to everyone else, and that’s okay, on this Ontario Day I urge all my colleagues and everyone who is watching—if this passes, and hopefully it does—to think of Ontario Day, the very first Ontario Day, and thank them and keep all of them in mind, who did so much for us during the pandemic.

Think about the small business owners who had to sacrifice so much in order to help us stop the spread of this virus, those small business owners who we have referred to as the engine of our economy, as the lifeblood of every single community. Help us remember them on Ontario Day and give back to them on Ontario Day. Once we get open, when it’s safe, go and support them. Support your neighbours and get to know more of this province when it is safe to do so. Travel around and get to know more of our province, because it is truly unique, truly beautiful.

I look forward to celebrating Ontario Day with everyone.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Mr. Michael Mantha: It’s always a pleasure to stand on behalf of the good people of Algoma–Manitoulin.

This morning, we’re talking about Bill 173,

An Act to proclaim Ontario Day.

We have lots to celebrate here in Ontario. I’ll get to the discussions, a little bit later in my comments, about the things that we have to celebrate and the things we have to remember. But the things that we have to really highlight as one of the priorities this government has this morning—is to talk about Ontario.

Right now, to be honest with you, Speaker, Ontarians aren’t celebrating. Ontarians are angry. Ontarians are looking at this government and saying, “What the heck is going on?” That’s what a lot of Ontarians are saying.

I agree with the member who just spoke that, hopefully, some day—I know we will. The resilience of our front-line workers and the people across this province will bring us there, with their care and compassion, and the fact that people are going over and above the call of duty. We’ve heard over and over again the commitment from our front-line workers and those in the professional medical field who continuously step up.

We’ll be able to celebrate that, and maybe on this particular day, if this bill does go through, we’ll be able to recognize the actual work that they’ve done, the contributions that they’ve consistently done through this entire pandemic, the sacrifices they’ve done for their families.

I want to go back to the anger that people across this province are feeling. Last week, the government came out with several announcements and more restrictions. Speaker, I have never seen this province so angry but so united on something, and so caring. We heard the voices of everyday people and our health care professionals come out and scream to this government, “What are you doing? Where are you taking us?

Why are you not taking the actions that are absolutely required to get us to the level of security that we want to feel for our family and our loved ones and our workplaces?” I have never experienced that level of anger in this province. It was gut-wrenching. You heard from people—from their inner emotions. They’re scared and angry. Why are we going down this path? Why are we making political decisions instead of scientifically based decisions?

Hopefully, one day, we’re going to be able to celebrate Ontario Day and recognize those who have passed away, those who have succumbed to what we’re going through right now with COVID-19. Let’s make sure that on Ontario Day, when that day does come, we don’t forget them.

Right now, as proud as I am of being from Ontario, I’m really not in a celebratory mood. I’m more concerned with people who are scared to go in to work but have no choice but to go in to work.

I come from northern Ontario. A lot of people are asking—paid sick days: We need those across the province.

Actually, I had a discussion with one of my colleagues this weekend, and he explained to me a perception that I didn’t quite grasp, but I fully grasped it this weekend. Here in Toronto, there are a lot of people who go to work—they get up each and every morning, and they get crammed onto the subways and on buses. They have no choice. Because they’re working at $16 or $17 an hour, they cannot afford to stay home. They cannot afford to get sick—well, yes, they can afford to get sick, but they do not have any paid sick days.

They do not have the discretion or the ability to sit at home for an extended period of time and wait to possibly be eligible and qualify for the federal program. So they go to work.

Interjection: They put their life on the line.

Mr. Michael Mantha: You’re right; they do put their life on the line. They go on that bus, shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm with the people who are on there. They go on the subway.

In northern Ontario, where I’m from, we have the ability—some people were carpooling. Now they’ve restricted—they’re not carpooling anymore.

I’m very proud of a lot of the mining and forestry companies throughout northern Ontario that have stepped up and brought in rapid testing and made sure that a lot of the protocols are there in the process of the day-to-day activities of their workers, made sure that they’re coming in and working in a safe environment. There are still concerns, yes, but it’s not the same thing as where you have large companies that just don’t have that ability to provide that safe environment for the workers who are there because they have bills, they have mortgages, they have payments. They have to go to work. They don’t have a choice.

If we wanted to celebrate something here in Ontario, why not—we have the ability. This government has that ability. Why not bring in paid sick days—time so that individuals can get paid and not worry about missing hours of work? Let’s celebrate Ontario. Let’s be that Ontario that we can be and implement those days. Let’s stop putting that spin on, “The federal program is there for people to apply, and people aren’t applying for it.” They just don’t meet the criteria. They cannot sit at home for three or four days and then miss an extensive period of time—and the pay isn’t going to come in in a couple of weeks.

Can you afford three days? I know that a lot of people in my riding just can’t. That’s the reality of it; you know it. We can fix it, but this government chooses not to. What we’re doing is recycling notes with the messaging and saying, “No, there’s a program federal program is available.” Well, that federal program is obstructive, and it is not easily accessible to individuals.

There’s another big part of what’s going on in this province that was happening way before COVID-19 started.

This weekend, I was invited—and I’ve asked permission from the family to utilize this story. I won’t use last names. I was invited to the community of Sagamok First Nation. Two things happened there. They finally decommissioned their checkpoint. Their entire community is now vaccinated. Many of the younger people who are eligible are being vaccinated as we speak. The chief and council and those who were at the checkpoint were celebrating, finally, the opening of the community, which was welcome news.

Prior to attending that, I attended another family event. I was invited by a family member to do a prayer walk within the community. They were walking in the memory of their daughter, who had succumbed to an overdose. In Ontario, we are dealing with a huge opioid crisis. In Algoma–Manitoulin, in the Algoma region, per capita, we have the largest amount of individuals who are dying from the opioid crisis. That is nothing to celebrate.

When we have Ontario Day—one of these days, if this piece of legislation passes—will we be able to celebrate that Ontario has finally stepped up and we are addressing the opioid crisis? That’s something that we desperately need to do.

I’ll tell you, Speaker, there are a lot of individuals out there who have a conscience, who work within the mental health and addictions in a variety of locations and organizations, who are proud to do what they do. They have been stressed for a very long time.

Communities have been hurting, because as you know, Speaker, when an individual dies from an overdose, it’s not just the individual who is affected; it’s the individuals in that circle, as well—the family, the mother, the father, the children, the grandfather, the people around, the people who are providing the services. It affects a lot of people, and it affects the well-being of that community.

The young lady’s name was Charisse. She was beautiful. She was 27 years old. Her birthday, I believe, was on Friday. We did the walk on Saturday. Two boys, three girls, ages ranging from two years old to 11 years old, are left behind to be raised by their grandfather. The grandfather, who has been carrying so much pain, carried the community eagle staff as we walked through the entire community during the prayer walk. They asked me if I wanted to share a few words. My words that I shared were very few. I wanted to be there in presence, to be there with the community.

Some of the words that were shared by the grandfather—at the end of ceremony we got down by the baseball field, where they unveiled a plaque with a message to those who are bringing the drugs inside the community: “Your days are numbered. You will not be permitted to kill any of our loved ones—our children, our mothers, our daughters, our fathers, our sisters, our brothers—in our community anymore.”

That was one walk that I did, but that is something that is repeated time and time and time again in so many communities across this province. Is that going to be part of Ontario Day that we’re going to be celebrating—that we finally addressed that? I hope so. I hope it’s something that we’re going to be talking about.

Are we going to be celebrating, on Ontario Day, that we finally provided the services that we need for small businesses? A lot of them are also being affected right now, some that we were successful—and I say “we” on behalf of the organizations that lobbied and put in some very strong efforts towards this government to expand on the small business loan, in order to expand it for them to qualify, particularly in the tourism sector.

There is a good way that we’re going to be able to—again, going back to the member and some of his comments that he brought forward. When we have that ability once again to travel through this province and go to the many events—because I know I’m in desperate need of a powwow dance. I’m in desperate need of a sacred fire. I’m in desperate need of getting into Gilbertson’s on St. Joseph Island to go to the maple fest. I’m in desperate need of heading up to the Wawa salmon fishing derby. I’m in desperate need of going to the Winnie the Pooh festival. I’m in desperate need of the Country Fest on Manitoulin Island.

We are all in need of these events. These are things that we will be able to once again celebrate. But we need to get to that point, and those small businesses and tourist outfitters need that support—and again, a big shout-out to them for having lobbied this government in order to get the government to respond and provide them with some help. But there are still many small businesses that just don’t qualify. One of the biggest asks that was asked from small businesses is to open the criteria—create greater eligibility, expand the program—so that they can qualify for this, as well.

I want to go back to what I started out by talking about, celebrating Ontario Day. I would sure like to see an amendment put into this bill and have it include paid sick days. Wow, do you want to pass a bill that will be significant? You can do it. Just imagine that those individuals—and this is not just coming from our labour organizations and health care professionals; this is coming from everyone.

How is it that last week—which elevated everybody’s frustration, the changes that this government brought forward. They lacked the fundamental ask that has been there consistently from everyone, all organizations, labour, health care professionals and so on: having paid sick days included.

Bill 173: Let’s make that amendment and make sure it’s added in there, and let’s celebrate that—Ontario finally recognizes that workers across this province are that important that we’re going to provide them with paid sick days and paid time to go get the vaccine. I see a few heads nodding on the other side. It would be nice to see it actually implemented. Go back to your cabinet, go back to your ministries, go back to your members and say, “Hmm, that’s a pretty good suggestion. Maybe it’s something we can do together.”

There’s so much more that we can do in this province right now.

Yes, celebrating Ontario Day, proclaiming it is key. Like I said, I’m extremely proud.

Je suis extrêmement content. Je suis super fier d’être une personne de l’Ontario, un petit gars—je m’appelle tout le temps un petit gars de Gogama, un petit francophone qui ne pouvait pas parler un mot en anglais jusqu’au temps qu’il arrive au secondaire. La seule chose que je savais comment dire quand j’étais jeune, moi, c’était « poutine » puis « ketchup ». Et puis, regarde : aujourd’hui, je me présente ici dans l’Assemblée de la part de tous les gens à travers Algoma–Manitoulin et d’une grosse

partie de tous les gens à travers cette province, et je donne mes commentaires sur le projet de loi pour proclamer le Jour de l’Ontario.

J’espère, comme j’ai dit dans mon discours en anglais, que le gouvernement va réaliser que ce qu’on veut vraiment voir—de la viande, comme on dit, dans la soupe, ou bien dans notre salade—c’est qu’on mette des jours pour combler des jours payés pour les gens qui sont malades pour qu’ils puissent rester à la maison, pour qu’ils puissent faire le bon choix pour ne pas exposer pas seulement eux autres et leur famille, mais les gens avec qui ils travaillent dans leur lieu de travail.

Oui, un beau jour on va célébrer—j’espère qu’on peut célébrer—ensemble; on peut reconnaître tous les gens qu’on a perdus à cause de cette pandémie. J’espère qu’on peut célébrer aussi les bonnes actions constructives qu’on a prises et puis qu’on a mises en place pour aider les gens. J’espère que ce jour-là, il vient. Et puis je l’offre au gouvernement : pensez-y. Mettez de la viande dans votre salade et rajoutez des jours pour reconnaître les gens qui vont au travail, et puis mettez des journées de maladie dans votre projet de loi 173 pour vraiment aider les gens de cette province.

Again, Speaker, I’m a proud francophone from northern Ontario. I’m a small guy who comes from a small community called Gogama, but I bring a lot of history with me.

There are a lot of people who are counting on us here.

I look towards that day when, yes, we can actually celebrate Ontario Day. But when we do celebrate that day, let’s make sure that we’re celebrating it and recognizing our front-line workers, that we’re recognizing the fact that we did the right decisions and that we included paid sick days.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Mr. Joel Harden: I’ll say candidly, because I respect MPP Parsa, I liked your other speech. I liked the Persian Heritage Month speech. I had a lot to connect with there. It’s a great initiative.

At this very moment, given all the phone calls, given all the emails, given all the contact I’ve received from people all over the city where I live, in Ottawa and Algonquin territory, I feel the same way as the member from Algoma–Manitoulin. I don’t feel very celebratory this morning.

I woke up to news that police checkpoints were set up at 4 a.m. on our five bridges and two ferry crossings and that no one from this government contacted the chief of police in Ottawa or the mayor of our city to collaborate on that.

Interjection.

Mr. Joel Harden: I hear some of my friends saying it’s not true. Well, I guess they’re calling Mayor Jim Watson a liar. That’s deeply disturbing. If the member for Sarnia–Lambton is calling the mayor of Ottawa a liar, that is deeply disturbing. The mayor of Ottawa was on CBC Radio this morning, saying very clearly that he was on a conference call with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on Friday. Ontario Big City Mayors were on a conference call with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, my neighbour in eastern Ontario. Did the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing tell the mayor of Ottawa or any other big-city mayor that this was coming? No.

Is the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, is this government prepared to compensate municipalities for asking our police forces to staff checkpoints where they are simply asking, “Are you following public health rules?” Speaker, of course we’re following public health rules. This is a pandemic. We’ve been in it for more than a year—and they ask our security forces to set up checkpoints across our interprovincial borders to ask you, “Hey, are you doing your part?” What a colossal waste of resources.

Mr. Robert Bailey: You’re a waste of resources.

Mr. Joel Harden: If the member for Sarnia–Lambton wants to point a finger at me and say that it’s wrong to say that, Speaker, I’ll take my charter rights in this place and I’ll tell that member, through you: Stand up at your cabinet table and tell your government to pick up the phone and call the mayors and the chiefs of police of the cities you ask to follow your ridiculous plans.

There is a statue right outside this building, on the west side, right outside the window of the office I was privileged to get, working hard for the people of Ottawa Centre. It’s from the 1837 rebellions of Upper Canada. On that statue, if you read the epitaph, it talks about a time when people in this province had to take up arms to deal with the colonial government in England that would not abide by the rights of people. The statue says, “May we never get back there again”—where a government doesn’t listen, where a government does whatever it wants, where people are dying and governments do nothing.

Interjection.

Mr. Joel Harden: They’re laughing, Speaker, and it honestly breaks my heart to know that members of this government find that funny.

Mr. Robert Bailey: I find you funny.

Mr. Joel Harden: Because people working in warehouses right now—

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Stop the clock, please.

I’m going to ask the member from Sarnia–Lambton to withdraw.

Mr. Robert Bailey: Withdraw.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): I’m also going to remind everyone in the House that we’ve had a really nice, quiet morning where everybody gave everyone an opportunity to speak without interrupting. It seems to be going in the opposite direction now. I’m going to ask folks to bring it back to where we’re all being respectful. Thank you.

Back to the member for Ottawa Centre.

Mr. Joel Harden: Thank you, Speaker.

What I’d really like this government to do is to withdraw its autocracy from the province of Ontario; withdraw the one-way channels of the communication they have from the Premier’s office to everywhere else, because in Ottawa, we can’t figure it out.

Our health experts are literally on television almost crying. Our health teams on the front lines are completely exhausted. And this government wants to at one moment ban playgrounds and police our way out of this pandemic—knowing nothing from the experts they were supposed to listen to. And they find it funny when a member stands up in this House and says, “Pick up the phone and call the mayor of our city before you tell our police forces to staff ridiculous, pointless checkpoints.”

I have a question, through you, Speaker, to the government. Think about the money it takes to put women and men who are first responders on five bridges and two ferry crossings in the Ottawa area. Think about all the money that you are wasting, at a time when people need paid sick days and immediate financial support to wait for their results from a test or to take a vaccination.

I tell you right now, there are two priority neighbourhoods in Ottawa Centre. I’ve been in those communities; I’ve knocked on those doors. The highest proportion of rooming houses in the city of Ottawa are in Ottawa Centre. I’ve talked to those folks who are living with trauma, who are struggling with all kinds of things, who work in precarious jobs.

I heard earlier when the member from Algoma–Manitoulin got up and asked, “Can anybody in this place wait three days before they get vaccinated?” Of course we can. We make $116,000 a year when we start out here. When you’re a cabinet minister, you make much more. Of course we can wait. But for people piecing together Uber Eats contracts or piecing together personal support work contracts and working at the grocery store—those front-line heroes who have been keeping us going for the last year can’t wait.

But for some reason, this government finds the money to set up useless checkpoints at our bridges and ferry crossings in the city of Ottawa—and you’re darn right I’m furious about it this morning. I don’t feel celebratory about this morning. I’m insulted that the government finds it funny. The government thinks it’s political theatre for me to express these points.

I am coming from the bottom of my heart to people over here—I know many of the members over here, who I’ve encountered in various pieces of legislation, who are decent folks, who want to stand up for their communities. I’m saying, through you, Speaker, to them: Now is your time to tell your Premier that he has to listen to more than his consultants from the United States, McKinsey and Co., who I guess are being paid millions of dollars to give us the charade we’re seeing at these press conferences. You are parliamentarians. Your people sent you here.

People are dying in our ICUs right now, and when I look at the geography of who is dying, so many of them are Conservative-represented ridings. They voted for you—not to sit here and do theatrics and to talk about a failing federal program which is not helping the most marginalized people get the benefits they need to stay safe. They fought for you to help them right in the here and now, to do what countries like Australia and New Zealand and Singapore and Norway have done.

What are we seeing? We’re seeing the blame game. The Premier gets up: “It’s your fault, Prime Minister. I don’t have the vaccines.” Come on. Anybody with the mental capacity to read what the public health experts are telling us knows very well we cannot at this moment vaccinate our way out of this pandemic. It’s a crucial piece, and I plan on getting, personally—now that the age limit has been lowered to 40—the AstraZeneca vaccine. I’m setting up my appointment this week. Every vaccination we get is a brick in the wall against this virus. We should all be doing it. The member for Kiiwetinoong showed leadership in doing so himself. But that’s not the only way out.

When you have experts like Dr. Peter Jüni getting on radio and saying that he’s pondering leaving his position because he just can’t see the suffering anymore, that he just can’t handle the gaudy spectacle of people being intubated who days ago were at a Dollarama helping somebody, who needed to stay home, who needed to have the financial capacity to stay home—we’ve really hit rock bottom in this province’s politics.

I talked about 1837. I want to talk about 1872. There’s another plaque across Queen’s Park Crescent, just outside of the building. It typifies the typographical workers’ union strike, which brought us union recognition in this province. Hundreds of thousands of women and men fought for them. They were declared illegal. They were told that they were doing unlawful combinations in the workplace by asking for an eight-hour day and a 40-hour work week. They fought, and they won, and they struggled, and they were victorious. That’s a great thing to celebrate in the province of Ontario.

When they fought against tyranny in 1872 and when people fought against tyranny in 1837, and all of our families who may trace back to those families—could we ever have imagined a moment in which a plague, a pandemic, hitting our province was treated like a game by the government in power to score political points or to suggest it was someone else’s fault, when the evidence is staring us right in the face?

Interjection.

Mr. Joel Harden: Apparently—I just heard—they don’t like being yelled at. Well, get used to it. My phone is ringing off the hook with people yelling at me, and they have every right to yell at me. People are furious. They’re losing family members in long-term care. What did these people do—Speaker, through you. Nothing. In fact, so many of their top staffers are tied to the for-profit LTC industry. There’s a revolving door between this government and that lobby.

What have they done for the essential workers who have kept us alive, who have kept body and soul together?

What urgency did they have for so many of our small businesses that are getting flushed down the toilet?

I can’t tell you the amount of small business owners in Ottawa Centre, Speaker, I’ve had occasion to speak to, who have said—

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): I apologize for interrupting the member. Unfortunately, time for debate is over. You’ll have an opportunity to finish your time when the bill is called again.

Third reading debate deemed adjourned.

Members’ Statements

COVID-19 immunization

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: By choosing policing over public health policy in his most recent slate of restrictions, the Premier showed that this government is either in over its head or ignoring the advice of public experts.

Currently, the Premier is sitting on one million vaccines that have not yet been distributed. Meanwhile, essential workers, particularly in hot spots, continue to have to put themselves and their entire households at risk by doing the simple act of going to work.

This rollout has been a mess from the start, leading to so much confusion and waste. For example, last week, my office called eight pharmacies in my riding that were listed on the government’s website. Only one of those pharmacies was actually offering the vaccine; the rest said they weren’t.

Public health units are still waiting for further direction from this government.

Hot spots like N6A in London weren’t included as a priority postal code.

The COVID-19 vaccine supply for Middlesex-London Health Unit is being cut by 25%, according to the region’s medical officer, Dr. Chris Mackie.

This government has staked everything on the vaccine, only to turn around and muck it up. We knew supplies would be limited and inconsistent. The truth is that we wouldn’t be in this position today if this government had done its job and implemented the expert advice and data driven by public health policy.

Legislate paid sick days, grant paid time off for vaccines, fund on-site vaccine clinics in workplaces like Cargill poultry processing plant in my riding, and give local public health units the information and funding they need to do their jobs. Anything short of this is irresponsible.

Infrastructure funding

Mr. Robert Bailey: It’s my privilege to rise today and update the House on important new investments in Sarnia–Lambton by the government of Ontario.

After many years of being considered one of the worst roads in southwestern Ontario, it was great to learn the first phase of the Plank Road reconstruction work in Sarnia is expected to start in July and be completed by October. If you recall, a total of $4.2 million in combined federal-provincial funding was announced last summer for this project. The money will support the reconstruction and widening of Plank Road between South Indian Road and Highway 40, which will increase road safety and improve traffic and travel times. This is great news for everyone who uses Plank Road on a regular basis.

In more infrastructure news, I was pleased with the recent announcement that the governments of Ontario and Canada are providing more than $10 million to our Sarnia–Lambton school boards to upgrade infrastructure at their local schools to protect against COVID-19. The Lambton Kent District School Board will receive almost $6.3 million, while the St. Clair Catholic District School Board is in line for $3.7 million. Upgrades in our local schools will include HVAC renovations to improve air quality, installing water-bottle refilling stations to improve access to safe drinking water, and space reconfigurations such as new walls and doors to enhance physical distancing.

Speaker, these are just some of the important investments that the government of Ontario is making in Sarnia–Lambton. I look forward to sharing more updates with you again soon.

COVID-19 response

Ms. Jessica Bell: The government’s announcement on Friday to bring in a police state regime while utterly failing to quash workplace transmission is going to lead to more people in Ontario dying—people who shouldn’t have to die.

I want to read some statements from health care professionals and their response to this. Here’s Michael Warner—he feels anger and defeat: “I’m ... resigned to our shared destiny. I cannot see any circumstance where I can now protect my patients from being forced to be palliated because of the lack of beds.”

This is Dr. Brooks Fallis: “They’ve done nothing to meaningfully protect them. And today they prioritized allowing those people who can stay at home to have non-essential goods made and delivered to them by people who end up in the ICU. It just felt like today”—this announcement—“was sending a whole lot of people to their death when they didn’t have to.”

These are heartbreaking words from people who are on the front lines helping people survive this pandemic.

It takes a very foolish group of people to respond to a pandemic primarily driven by workplace transmission and weighing primarily on racialized citizens by allowing cops to ask where you live and where you are going if you are outside.

You know what to do: Tackle workplace transmission, bring in paid sick days, listen to public health. Do your job. You are killing people.

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

Ms. Jessica Bell: Withdraw.

Agricultural colleges

Mr. Will Bouma: I rise in the House today to offer my congratulations to the 16 students who have completed the inaugural agricultural equipment operator program at Conestoga College in Brantford. The success of these students will be celebrated virtually on Friday, April 30. This pilot program, based out of the Brantford airport location, is offered by Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. This is a program funded by both the provincial and federal governments through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, or CAP.

As we recognize the immense value the agriculture sector provides for our local economy and our food security, programs such as this one seek to address the need to train skilled workers to fulfill the demands of farm operations. This program provides training in such areas as spraying, fertilizing, custom tillage, harvesting and machine operation.

My hope is that this initial group of students will be the first of many seeking to achieve in-demand skills training, addressing this critical workforce need both for farms today and those in the future.

My sincere appreciation to Conestoga, as well, for being a provincial leader in the delivery of skilled trades and apprenticeship training.

I wish these students all the best as they embark upon their careers in the agricultural sector.

COVID-19 response

Mr. Joel Harden: I woke up early this morning to find out that there were checkpoints set up at the five bridges between our province, our city of Ottawa, and our neighbours in Gatineau, and at our two ferries. Do you know what was curious, Speaker? I heard the mayor of our city, the honourable Jim Watson, say that he didn’t get a single phone call from this government about how that was going to happen, and that he is defying this government’s request—the earlier request, at least—for them to profile people.

This is people power in action. Good people all over this province know that the government right now is adrift without a rudder. The least they expect, when they implement measures that on their face don’t make any sense, is that they would pick up the phone and call Ottawa’s chief of police, call the Ottawa mayor, call our authorities, and not issue dictates from Toronto, as the mayor said this morning on CBC Radio. But that’s where we’re at, sadly. We have a situation in which people are filling our ICUs who are essential workers and dying.

But this government would rather spend money on 24/7 checkpoints at five bridges and two ferry crossings that make no public health sense, at least not in the way they’re doing it right now.

Take that money and don’t do this charade. Put it in the hands of people who need to stay home safe, who need to be back with their families. Stop disrespecting essential workers, and start standing up for the people of this province with a real paid sick day program.

Public transit

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’m very pleased to be here in the Legislature today. For the last few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of being in a closed household bubble with my daughter Maggie; her partner, Dan; and their beautiful new baby girl, Violet Jean Hambly. I’ve been working solely from home in order to be able to help with those first few challenging weeks in a first-time mother’s life.

To all of the young moms who have given birth during COVID-19: Please know that you’ve had a very, very difficult and lonely road. Becoming a mom is challenging at the best of times, and COVID-19 is not the best of times, so please be gentle with yourselves and take care.

Speaker, there is an issue in my riding of Don Valley West that needs the attention of the Minister of Transportation. The building of the Ontario Line and the accompanying maintenance and storage facilities will be very disruptive to the Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park communities, whatever the final design and alignment. These are dense, diverse urban communities that need vital transit links but that also need government to respect and understand the unique character of the services, businesses and faith institutions that serve them. Right now, community members feel that they have been excluded from the decision-making process and that information is not accessible.

I’m calling on the Minister of Transportation, respectfully, to establish a direct connection with community leaders and to visit the community as soon as possible to better understand local needs. I’m willing and available to facilitate such a visit and to introduce her to the community whenever she should choose to attend.

Infrastructure funding

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members’ statements? The member from Kitchener–Conestoga.

Mr. Mike Harris: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I know you probably know this—but to everybody else who’s here today: Did you know that one of the oldest covered bridges in Canada is located in Kitchener–Conestoga, right in the heart of Woolwich township, in the community of West Montrose?

The West Montrose covered bridge, or, as it is known locally, the Kissing Bridge, was built in 1880 and is still used today by many members of the community to cross the Grand River. While it was only meant to last less than a decade, today, 140 years later, it still stands as one of Waterloo region’s most iconic landmarks.

Earlier this month, I had the honour of joining my friend the member from Oakville and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure to announce that Ontario would be investing $2 million to rehabilitate and protect the bridge through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This investment, along with funding from our local and federal partners, will support a much-needed retrofit of this long-standing piece of history.

Speaker, for too long, infrastructure in rural communities like Woolwich township had been forgotten about. But as the government voice for rural Waterloo region, I will continue to advocate for their needs, and I’m pleased to have the support of my government colleagues here in the chamber.

Our Minister of Infrastructure has delivered on funding that will bring a new Glasgow Street bridge to Conestogo, along with repairs to the Woolwich Memorial Centre and the Weigel stormwater management system. These repairs are long-overdue investments for Woolwich, and I thank the Minister of Infrastructure for hearing the voices of my community.

I look forward to delivering more good news to the people of Kitchener–Conestoga in the not-so-distant future.

COVID-19 response

Ms. Marit Stiles: Over the last few days, the government has managed to do what even their supporters thought was impossible: make matters in Ontario worse. My constituents in Davenport, like people across this province, are tired of the confusion, the mixed messaging, the reactive short-sighted decisions that are putting their families and their neighbours at risk.

Mr. Speaker, it has become clear that this government can no longer be trusted to lead us through this pandemic. They have lost the confidence of Ontarians. Our ICUs are overwhelmed. In some cases, whole families are being admitted. Kids are at home taking care of kids. SickKids hospital is repurposing beds for adult patients for the first time, health care workers are pleading for our help, and this government’s response was to ban playgrounds and bring back carding.

Government members across the way bear as much responsibility as the Premier, but today I am challenging them to put the health of their constituents and the future of our province first.

Speaker, it is time for us to work together to save Ontario: Repeal the new police powers; bring in paid sick days and paid time off for vaccination; close all the non-essential workplaces; and get vaccines where they are needed now most. It is not going to be good enough to shuffle the deck chairs on the Titanic. Either allow us to turn this boat around or get off.

Community services

Mr. Lorne Coe: I’m pleased that the government is providing more than $42 million to help non-profit organizations across the province, including many in Whitby and other parts of the region of Durham, to support staff and volunteers, to reimagine programming and renovate facilities as they deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding helps organizations like Luke’s Place, Catholic Family Services of Durham and many others across the region of Durham adapt to the challenges created by the pandemic, ensuring that they can provide the best services possible and make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families in Whitby and across the region of Durham.

Speaker, the Resilient Communities Fund grants will bring needed support to many community organizations across the region trying to meet local needs.

COVID-19 immunization

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: I know that this last year has been very hard on our province. It has been tough on everyone, with no exceptions. As a father with three school-aged kids currently learning from home, I know how challenging things have been for the families of Ontario.

Everyone has been working hard to help stop the spread of COVID-19. I’m so grateful to be part of a community that cares so much about one another. That is why today I’m asking Ontarians to continue to do their part and get vaccinated. If you or someone you know qualifies for a vaccine, please do not hesitate to register or book an appointment online at ontario.ca/book-vaccine or by contacting your public health unit.

My parents recently received their vaccinations, and I can tell you what a relief it has been to know that they are now so much safer, and they feel great about it, too.

As a father, I want nothing more than to see my kids safely back at school with their friends and educators. Together, we can make this happen.

I also want to remind the people of Ontario that the federal government is offering Ontarians up to four weeks of paid sick leave through the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit. This program gives income support to employed and self-employed Ontarians who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19. You can contact the CRA to find out more or apply online through the CRA website.

I want to thank our Premier and my colleagues for their work in supporting our constituents.

And I want to thank our front-line and essential workers as well as every individual for doing their part to stay home, stay safe, save lives.

Let’s get through this together so we can come back stronger than ever.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Point of order, the leader of Her Majesty’s loyal opposition.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I seek unanimous consent to bring forward a motion requiring the government to implement paid sick days legislation to help protect workers across Ontario from COVID-19 so no one has to make the difficult choice between staying home when sick and being able to pay the bills.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition is seeking unanimous consent of the House to bring forward a motion requiring the government to implement paid sick days legislation. Agreed? I heard a no.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Point of order, Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I seek unanimous consent to bring forward a motion without notice calling on the Ford government to revoke O. Reg. 298/21 and the unprecedented and potentially unconstitutional powers it has extended to Ontario’s police services.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition is seeking unanimous consent of the House to bring forward a motion without notice calling on the government to revoke O. Reg. 298/21. Agreed? I heard a no.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I seek unanimous consent to move a motion without notice calling on the Ford government to implement paid time off for vaccinations, helping facilitate the timely vaccination of Ontario’s workers as part of the fight against COVID-19.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion without notice calling on the government to implement paid time off for vaccination. Agreed? I heard a no.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I seek unanimous consent to move a motion without notice calling on the Ford government to implement a full shutdown of Ontario’s non-essential businesses where the risk of COVID-19 spread is high and extend adequate financial supports to help the workers and businesses impacted by the interruption.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion without notice calling on the government to implement a full shutdown of Ontario’s non-essential businesses where the risk of COVID-19 spread is high. Agreed? I heard a no.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I seek unanimous consent to immediately pass private member’s motion 136, calling on the Ford government to provide financial assistance for small businesses not eligible for other supports during the pandemic.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to immediately pass private member’s motion 136, calling on the government to provide financial assistance for small businesses not eligible for other supports during the pandemic. Agreed? I heard a no.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: Point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Point of order, the member for Scarborough–Guildwood.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: I seek unanimous consent to move a motion regarding the immediate passage of Bill 247, the Paid Personal Emergency Leave Now Act.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Scarborough–Guildwood is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion to provide for the immediate passage of Bill 247. Agreed? I heard a no.

Holocaust memorial

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand the government House leader has a point of order.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I seek unanimous consent to immediately pass the motion tabled this morning by the member for Eglinton–Lawrence, respecting the establishment of a Holocaust memorial.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion without notice with respect to the immediate passage of a private member’s bill regarding the Holocaust—

Interjection: It’s right here.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Well, send it over, then. Thank you.

The government House leader is seeking unanimous consent of the House that the Legislative Assembly should, in broad consultation and direct engagement with Ontario’s Jewish community, establish a Holocaust memorial on the grounds of the assembly. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I seek unanimous consent that the House continue to meet today past 6 p.m.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I think I can manage that one.

The government House leader is seeking unanimous consent of the House to allow the House to continue to meet today past 6 p.m. Agreed? I heard a no.

It appears we’re done with the points of order, so now we have question period.

Question Period

COVID-19 response

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My first question this morning is for the Premier.

Speaker, COVID-19 is tearing through our communities. At this point, almost 750 people are in ICUs literally struggling to breathe.

On Friday, the Premier chose not to take the advice of the medical experts who asked him to deal with this horrifying situation in our province. Will he instead do that today?

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

Hon. Christine Elliott: In fact, we have been taking the advice of the medical experts since this pandemic began. We have been taking their advice with respect to the need to maintain physical distancing, to follow the public health rules, to the declaration of the state of emergency most recently and the stay-at-home order. We also followed the advice that was given to us that we needed to step down on scheduled surgeries, which we did.

We followed the advice with respect to rolling out and redeploying health human resources from one location to another to make sure that in hot spots we had adequate people to care for those in intensive care. We also followed their advice in order to be able to move patients around, if necessary, from one location to another, to deploy all of our health workforce and our health availability in intensive care and other units across the province.

So in that and everything else, we have followed the health experts every step along the way during this pandemic.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, Speaker, the Minister of Health knows that is not the case. In fact, every single member of the science table disagrees with the statement that this minister just made.

Front-line staff were literally sobbing in hallways of hospitals when they saw the Ford government’s press conference on Friday. Experts have been pleading with this government to protect vulnerable workers. The Premier instead decided to close playgrounds and give police sweeping powers that they didn’t want and that they won’t use.

Speaker, the government’s expert advice from the science table has been very, very clear.

Why will the Ford government not take the advice of the experts? And will they finally do so today and help save lives of Ontarians?

Hon. Christine Elliott: In fact, our government has taken the advice of the health science advisory table; the public health measures table; Dr. Williams, our Chief Medical Officer of Health; and the medical health officers in each of the 34 public health unit regions. That is why we decided to deploy 25% of all of the vaccines off the top, before they are delivered to the 34 public health unit regions—in order to dedicate those extra vaccines to the hot spot areas.

We know that’s where a lot of the transmission is happening, and if we’re able to do that, we will be able to get the numbers more under control, to reduce the number of people in ICUs, to save more lives. That is the goal of all of this. That’s what we’re following. That’s what the medical health officers recommended, and that’s what we’re doing.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Mr. Speaker, the experts were very clear on what we need in Ontario to save lives and save the health of our people: paid sick days, not carding; essential workers being vaccinated, not being stopped for checks; shutting down of workplaces where COVID-19 is spreading, and not shutting down playgrounds and soccer fields.

The advice was very, very clear. I think that we need to hear from the Premier and this government exactly whose advice they are taking, because they clearly are not taking the advice of the experts.

Will this Premier finally start listening to those front-line health care workers and the experts who are pleading with him to do the right thing?

Hon. Christine Elliott: In fact, what the Chief Medical Officer of Health has recommended, what the science advisory table has recommended is that we need to have enhanced public health measures because this is spreading within our communities. We need to stop that. That’s why the recommendation was made with respect to the closure of playgrounds—because of close community interaction. However, we did hear from people that this was not something they wanted. We are listening. That is why we made that change. But we are still asking people to please follow those public health measures. That is how this transmission is happening. That is what the medical experts have told us.

That is also why we’re deploying 25% of the vaccines off the top to go into those hot spot areas. We know if we can deal with those hot spot areas, that is going to be good for the entire province, because that will reduce transmission and make our hospitals be able to cope with the numbers of people who are coming in, and reduce the number of people we have in intensive care units.

That is all part of the advice we’ve received, and that is what we are following.

COVID-19 response

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, my next question is also for the Premier.

Nobody agrees with the Premier. The science table has publicly asked for a course correction; not what the minister is suggesting. The police publicly rebuked this government on the regulation they brought forward on Friday. Even the PC caucus seems to be in revolt when it comes to the decisions their own government is making.

We need to fix this scenario. The government can do that. We need to prioritize the saving of lives, the health and well-being of Ontarians, the saving of our hospitals and our health care system.

Will the government do the right thing: reverse course and actually implement the measures that the experts have been telling them are necessary to save Ontarians’ lives?

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

Hon. Christine Elliott: Our government has been following the recommendations made by the medical officer of health, the science advisory table and others. Our goal is to save the lives of the people of Ontario, to protect their health and well-being. That is why we’ve taken the steps that we have.

We understand that there’s a lot of transmission in the community, that we need to limit mobility as much as possible for the next few weeks. This is a very, very difficult state that we’re in. We recognize that. We know that we need to roll out those vaccines as quickly as possible. That’s why they’re available in vaccination hot spots, they’re available in private clinics, they’re available in pharmacies. What we need is a greater supply so that we can get more needles into more arms as fast as possible. That is what we’re doing.

We are working with the federal government, and we know that we need to move fast on this and to reduce transmission. We have followed this advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Health all along.

With respect to the science advisory table, I know there’s an issue with respect to some of the items that they are concerned about. I will deal with that in my supplemental.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, the very science advisory table that this minister claims the Premier is following the advice of said that we cannot vaccinate ourselves out of this crisis. They said that weeks ago, but the government didn’t listen.

Doctors, including the government’s own experts, feel betrayed and frightened. Dr. Peter Jüni said this: “Yesterday”—referring to Friday—“was one of the darkest days in my professional career and also personally.... It’s just wrong, you know? It’s just wrong.” Dr. Ashleigh Tuite said, “I feel sick. I actually feel sick ... if they don’t get this now, they’re not going to get it. It’s been a few hours, but I’m still shaking.”

Speaker, lives are at stake in our province. People are dying of COVID-19.

Will the Premier finally admit that the measures he announced Friday were the wrong measures and actually take the advice of the experts and implement measures that will save lives and get us out of this horror show that we’re all living?

Hon. Christine Elliott: We have been following the recommendations made by the science advisory table all along.

I understand that Dr. Jüni is concerned that not all of the public health regions that they recommended were included in the list that we projected. However, it’s really important to understand that that is not the only thing that one needs to look at in identifying the hot spots. We looked at the recommendations made by the science advisory table, but we also need to look at hospitalizations, outbreak data, low testing rates and deaths during the second wave of the pandemic. We also need to look at some of the socio-economic barriers that are preventing people from coming in to receive the vaccines.

All of those were taken into account in identifying the hot spots across this province. All of those were taken into account with the best interests of the health and well-being of the people of Ontario. We started with that at the beginning of this pandemic. It continues to be our main focus, and it will be throughout our response to it.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): This is the final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, lives are at stake; lives are being lost. People are struggling to breathe in the ICUs, which are bursting at the seams with COVID-19 patients.

Dr. Andrew Morris says this: “Eighteen months ago, we talked about hallway medicine. Now we’re talking about hallway deaths and tent deaths.... We need a government that will listen to science.”

The Premier has to start listening to the pleas of the front-line ICU doctors and nurses, not to the anti-shutdown, anti-science wing of the PC caucus. Will he start doing that?

Hon. Christine Elliott: We have been listening to the recommendations made to us by the medical experts and by the epidemiologists. That has been the case every step along the way.

What we’ve been trying to do—in addition to reduced transmission—is to build capacity in our ICUs. We started that a year ago. We’ve built over 3,400 beds in our system—which is the size of six community hospitals. We’ve added over 285 intensive care beds.

What we’re doing now is making sure that we can use our entire health capacity to make sure that we can use every single bed we need to use. That is why we’re transferring patients, if we have to, from one location to another, as close as possible to their home location. That is why we’re redeploying staff from all across the province. We are working with other provinces to enlist some of their assistance, as well.

That is why, unfortunately, we’ve had to postpone slightly the scheduled surgeries and procedures, so that we will have the people in the hospital to care for the COVID-19 patients, who would otherwise be caring for the surgical patients.

All of that is on the basis of medical advice that we’re receiving on a daily basis.

COVID-19 response

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, my next question is also to the Premier.

The Premier had a whole year to plan to avoid the crisis that we’re in. Instead, what he’s ended up doing now is having to deal with this scramble—begging Conservative Premiers around the country for help that they can’t provide and, unbelievably, rejecting help from the Red Cross when it was offered last week. He is putting petty politics ahead of human life, and it’s a disgrace.

There is a nightmare scenario happening right now in ICUs: almost 750 patients in ICUs in our province.

How can the Premier possibly justify rejecting any offer of help when Ontarians’ lives are at stake?

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

Hon. Christine Elliott: We have taken every step possible, and we are continuing to do so, to build the capacity in our health care system and in our intensive care system. It’s one thing to have the beds; it’s another thing to have the health human resources to be able to operate them. In some part, we will already have the health human resources because they are already there. They would otherwise be dealing with surgical patients. We have to postpone that somewhat. We’ll get back to that as soon as we can. We know we have that internally, but we’re also looking at Ontario Health, at the former LHINs.

We’re looking at making sure that we can bring in more students—a student extern program that we already have. We had 900 spots filled as of February. We can extend that to 3,200 people, with pharmacy technicians and other technicians. We are building that capacity to be able to deal with this.

As the Leader of the Opposition should probably be aware, this is not just happening in Ontario; this is happening across Canada and around the world because of the variants. This is a new situation that we’re dealing with now. They’re very, very transmissible. That’s why it’s so important—we are asking people to please follow those public health measures so—

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Premier of this province needs to stop the political posturing. People are dying of COVID-19 by the thousands.

What we need in our province is paid sick days, not carding. What we need is giving essential workers the vaccinations that they need, not giving them spot checks on the side of the road. What we need is to shut down workplaces where COVID-19 is spreading, not to shut down playgrounds and soccer fields.

The Premier needs to start putting human life above his political pride. So my question is, can this Premier actually do that?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Protecting human life has been our primary goal since this entire pandemic began. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition, through you, Speaker, that that is the Premier’s primary goal right now. He has been working day and night trying to get assistance for Ontario right now. He is working very, very hard. He’s working with other Premiers. We’re looking at other countries to try to get assistance, to make sure that we have the health human resources, in part to relieve the people who we know are already on the front lines, who are working day and night to save lives. That is our goal, as well. That is what we’re working on.

In terms of what we’re doing to protect human life, we are dedicating 25% of all vaccines that come in to go into those hot spots, to go into those factories, to go into those workplaces, to make sure that we can vaccinate people who are living in some of those hot spots. That is the plan, that is what we’re going to do, and that is what is going to save lives.

COVID-19 response

Mr. Stan Cho: In the week of April 4 to 10, the data available shows that no fewer than 39 international flights landed at Pearson International Airport with confirmed cases of COVID-19. On these flights, combined, more than 450 rows of passengers are considered affected by the confirmed positive cases. Speaker, depending on the size of these planes, we are talking about maybe 1,300 to 2,700 passengers or more.

The spread of COVID-19 and dangerous variants of concern is only made worse by cases coming from other countries.

Will the government call on the federal government to secure our airports, as the federal government should have done months and months ago?

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: I want to thank the member for Willowdale for that question.

It is obviously something that is very serious and certainly impacts Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal. This is really where the variants of concern started to come into these provinces. We have been calling on the federal government right from the beginning to secure our airports.

As the member highlighted, it’s up to 2,700 passengers a week who could be infected—into our communities right here in the province of Ontario. It’s just too much, Mr. Speaker. So, yes, again, we will be calling on the federal government to do its part to secure our airports, so that we can continue to make progress on not only attacking, but defeating, COVID-19.

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

Mr. Stan Cho: The data also shows that no fewer than 14 domestic flights landed at Pearson with confirmed cases of COVID-19. On these flights, combined, more than 80 rows of passengers are considered affected by positive cases. Depending on the size of these planes, we’re talking about maybe 200 to 250 passengers or more.

The spread of COVID-19 and dangerous variants of concern is only made worse by the fact that this virus is coming in from other provinces.

Speaker, will the government call on the federal government to secure our airports, as the federal government should have done long ago?

Hon. Paul Calandra: The member is quite correct: It is also domestic flights—because, as you know, many of the international flights then result in domestic flights across the country. That is why Ontario is working with both Manitoba and Quebec to ensure that we can secure our borders.

Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, we need the federal government to take a more active role. We have been calling on them for months. When we started hearing about the variants of concern—whether it was from Brazil, whether it was from the UK—we called on the federal government to show some leadership at our airports. It was this Premier and this government that had to institute testing at the airports. We had to lead the way in terms of isolation.

But ultimately, whether it’s international flights or domestic flights, we need the federal government to start showing some leadership and help us by securing those international airports so that we can save and protect, as we said, up to 2,700 people just on international flights and up to 500 on domestic. It’s a big number and we need to get it under control.

COVID-19 immunization

Ms. Doly Begum: We have over 4,447 new cases as of today. Scarborough has an average of 24%—once again, positivity rates with neighbourhoods where there are almost 1,000 cases per 100,000 people.

Mr. Speaker, I really hope the Premier is listening. Frankly, these days I feel like he’s not listening to me or the people of this province or his caucus members. And I know that many Ontarians are listening to us as we speak in this House. I hope he understands the reality that we’re facing in this province and the outcry that’s in this province right now. We are on the international news or on CNN, BBC. People are talking about us like they were talking about Italy last year.

Last week, 10,000 of our vaccine appointments were cancelled and two clinics closed. Yesterday, I heard that two more days were cancelled in Scarborough. I know the minister will blame the federal government, and I know they have their procurement failures.

But I’m asking the minister—because they have a responsibility for the disaster we have in Ontario, because they have failed to protect our essential workers and distribute vaccines equitably—why is this government still not providing Scarborough and—

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

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you to the member for the question.

Of course, we have been listening every step along the way. That is why 15 neighbourhoods in Scarborough have been identified as hot spots. As you probably heard in my response to a previous question, 25% of all vaccines that we receive are now going to be designated to hot spots. That means that some areas that have low rates of transmission will be receiving fewer vaccines, but that means places like Scarborough, which has 15 areas that are in hot spots, will be receiving more vaccines. We understand that there are high rates in Scarborough.

That is why we’re making this change—so that there will be additional vaccines coming to Scarborough, making sure that your constituents and all the people in Scarborough will be protected.

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

Ms. Doly Begum: I want to thank the minister for her answer.

There are 15 areas identified, and I have personally identified locations in my area for mobile clinics. I’m going to reach out to the minister’s office directly, because we don’t have a single mobile clinic in Scarborough yet. We have a 24% positivity rate and essential workers, racialized community members who still cannot get their vaccines, and seniors—people who are still waiting from phase 1.

If you’re listening to experts, listening to Ontarians, well, let me tell you this: Doctors have repeatedly told us that Scarborough is on fire with COVID-19. Our hospitals are on the brink, with ICUs full and these patients who are critically ill with COVID-19—our essential workers, the most vulnerable people. The science table has made it very clear that we need to prioritize our hardest-hit regions, that we need decisive actions around workplace safety to protect our essential workers.

Instead, on Friday, this government chose a police state over public health, chose regulations that unfairly harm low-income and racialized people like those in my community.

Mr. Speaker, I want to quote Dr. Shail Rawal, who very beautifully said, “They looked us in the eye and said your labour is essential, but your lives are not.

My question is, why is this government refusing to listen to experts and provide paid sick days—

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

Interjections.

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

Hon. Christine Elliott: I would say to the member, through you, Mr. Speaker, that what she is suggesting is absolutely not the case. You’ve already heard the indication that, recognizing that there are 15 hot spot areas within Scarborough, Scarborough will be receiving additional vaccines.

With respect to where people can receive the vaccines, I can advise that there are 51 pharmacies in Scarborough that are providing vaccines, six mass immunization clinics and four primary care locations, which are going to be expanding, of course, as we receive more doses of the vaccine. No one in Scarborough is being forgotten. Everyone who wants to receive a vaccine will get one, and we are going to prioritize people in their workplaces to make sure that they can come in and get the vaccines.

You are in a hot spot. There’s no question about that. We’ve recognized that. We’re providing more vaccines, and we’re going to make sure we have more mobile units go in to help make sure that people in the workplaces can receive them.

COVID-19 immunization

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: My question is to the Premier.

This weekend, I spoke to many people in Scarborough who had their vaccination appointments cancelled. There were no alternatives offered. It has been over a week—no mobile clinics coming to support these people. Scarborough has been devastated by the cancellation of over 10,000 vaccination appointments at the Centennial College SHN clinic.

All of Scarborough is a hot spot, not just the 15 postal codes—a 24% positivity rate in the highest region. Last Friday, we were looking for a vaccination plan from this government to address our community. Instead, Scarborough and the province were left with something that really looks like police surveillance and government-mandated carding. The only announcement addressing the vaccination gap in Scarborough was a vague promise of 25% more vaccines allotted to hot spots. The people of this province deserve more. Scarborough residents deserve specifics.

So will the government tell us: How many vaccines will the Premier deliver to the SHN, the Scarborough Health Network, this week to get all sites in Scarborough vaccinating people today?

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

Hon. Christine Elliott: I can advise the member opposite that all of the hot spots that have been identified to date, and others as they come forward, will be provided their share of the 25% of vaccines off the top before the next allocation is given to the public health unit that they would normally receive equitably, as with the other 34 public health unit regions.

As far as the closure of the clinics in Scarborough is concerned, I think it’s important to remind the member opposite that the public health units themselves are responsible for receiving the distribution of vaccines and making sure that they’re allocated to all of the distribution spots where the vaccines are going to be administered.

In the case of the Scarborough Health Network, as with others, it’s important to remember that Toronto Public Health has a system so that when they receive the vaccines, they are allocated, and each vaccination site is advised how much they are getting and when they will be receiving another allocation.

However, there is a plan that is being delivered in accordance with the plan. All of the public health units are very well—

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

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: Back to the Premier: It is your government’s responsibility. The modelling tells us that hot spots are vaccinating at 5% lower than non-hot spots. That’s wrong, and that has to be corrected quickly.

Speaker, this government’s enforcement of measures is offensive and erodes public trust in the government’s ability to manage this crisis. Right after the Premier’s announcement, police services made statements against implementing random checks, including Toronto and Peel. These powers have the greatest impact on Black, Indigenous, brown and other people of colour who feel targeted by these measures. They know what it’s like to be carded and stopped without cause. BIPOC make up a large amount of essential workers leaving their homes this morning to get to the front lines. The Premier needs to support these workers and not fine them.

Will the Premier do the right thing for essential workers: give them paid sick leave, paid vaccination—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. The government House leader to reply.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the question.

As the honourable member is fully aware, the first federal budget in two years will be presented today, and it is our complete expectation that the federal government will move to supplement the Canadian sick benefit program. As you know, there is a significant surplus in the Ontario account, and we expect that those changes will include a paid vaccination day for essential workers and an elimination of the gap between when a worker can apply and receive that benefit. We’re anxiously waiting, but we do expect that to be in the federal government’s budget today, and we look forward to the support of all members of the House for that measure in the federal budget.

COVID-19 response

Mr. Stan Cho: I want to talk about the data from last week, April 11 to 17. It’s not all in yet, but it shows that at least 16 international flights landed at Pearson airport with confirmed cases of COVID-19. On these flights combined, more than 120 rows of passengers are considered affected by confirmed positive cases. Depending on the size of the planes, we’re talking about maybe 350 to 700 passengers or more.

The spread of COVID-19 and dangerous variants of concern is only made worse by cases coming in from other countries.

Speaker, will our government call on the federal government to secure our airports, as the federal government should have done many months ago?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I want to again thank the honourable member for the question. I know how important it is not only to him and his community—recognizing the fact that Toronto, Peel and York regions are three of the hardest-hit regions, having been in lockdown since November.

The member is quite correct. International flights and, in many cases, domestic flights have been a serious cause of community spread, Mr. Speaker. The Premier was well ahead of this—and it wasn’t just our Premier; it was Premiers in some of the larger cities where we’re now seeing a third-wave impact most significantly. We’re all calling on the federal government to take control of our borders, to institute testing at the borders, to provide isolation centres at the borders. It was the Premiers of these provinces who had to take steps, in the absence of federal leadership on this.

But the federal government can still do the right thing: take control of our international borders so that we can control these variants of concern. There is still time to do this. When you see the numbers each and every week, the threat is continuous, and we need to take action right away. I call on the federal government to do that.

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

Mr. Stan Cho: I’m glad the government House leader brings up domestic flights, because the data available also shows that four domestic flights landed at Pearson with confirmed cases of COVID-19. That’s, combined on these planes, 20 rows of passengers who are considered affected by confirmed positive cases. Depending on the size of the planes, we’re talking about maybe 60 to 120 passengers.

The spread of COVID-19 and these variants of concern is only made worse by cases coming in from other provinces.

Speaker, will the government call on the federal government to secure our airports, as they should have done a long time ago?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, Mr. Speaker, it is very important—and it cannot be understated how important it is. While we appreciate the assistance of the federal government on issues where we can work co-operatively, we are pleading with the federal government to do its part, to secure our international borders.

When you see what is happening at our airports, the member was very correct in highlighting the data. We’re talking about thousands of people who are coming through our borders, possibly infecting hundreds of Ontario residents, putting more stress on our health care system.

We need the federal government to move quickly to do this. We have been calling for this for months. Before the variants of concern started having such an impact on the province of Ontario, we begged them to do this. There is still time. They can still institute better testing at our airports. They can close the airports down. They can close those international airports. When we see the impact it’s also having on domestic flights, now is the time for the federal government to work with us to secure our international borders so that we can defeat COVID-19 once and for all.

COVID-19 response

Ms. Sara Singh: Doctors have been warning that our ICUs were in crisis and that, in communities like Brampton, essential workers and their entire families were getting sicker much faster. But on Friday, as hospitals and ICUs were on the verge of bursting, as case counts and outbreaks were at all-time highs, and as thousands of doctors and nurses were struggling to keep people alive, Dr. Williams, this government’s top COVID-19 adviser, just shrugged his shoulders and said there was nothing that could be done.

Speaker, there was a lot that could have been done. This government could have implemented paid sick days to help save lives. They could have provided vaccinations in hot spot communities, but they failed to do that. To say there was nothing more that could have been done is just horrifying, and it shows that this government just simply doesn’t care.

My question to the Minister of Health: Will she denounce Dr. Williams’s heartless comments and finally take some responsibility for this crisis that she and this government are responsible for?

Hon. Christine Elliott: I would say to the honourable member, through you, Mr. Speaker, that Dr. Williams has done an incredible job for this province. Over the course of this pandemic, he has provided invaluable advice to us as a government, along with the public health measures table, the science advisory table and numerous others. We are indebted to him for the work he has done.

Any suggestion that he made that he couldn’t have done anything about it, I’m sure, was with respect to the fact that these variants of concern are so much more transmissible and relate to so many more hospitalizations, so many more people in acute care and ICUs, and unfortunately, many more deaths—including young people.

Dr. Williams is dedicated to preserving the lives and safety of the people of Ontario, as is our government, and we are taking every step possible to make sure that we can do that.

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

Ms. Sara Singh: Speaker, doctors don’t feel like this government is doing everything that it possibly can.

I’ll quote some of these leading experts.

From Dr. Michael Warner: “I do feel defeated.... I’m kind of past anger, and on to defeat.”

From Dr. Brooks Fallis, critical care doctor at Brampton Civic Hospital: “It just felt like today was sending a whole lot of people to their death when they didn’t have to.”

Speaker, through you again to the Minister of Health: These are the words of doctors, nurses and science table advisers, yet the government keeps pretending that there’s nothing more that they could have done.

How many more people need to die in this province before this government is going to step up with a plan, help us get through this third wave, and help us save lives in the province of Ontario? How many more people need to die before they will take action?

Hon. Christine Elliott: In fact, our government does have a plan that has been informed by medical experts on the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force. The goal of all of us, which I’m sure is yours as well, is to save lives, protect people, make sure that they’re going to be safe.

That’s why our vaccine rollout is going to start with age, risk and the hot spots. That’s why we have distributed 25% of the vaccines off the top to those hot spots, making sure that those people living in those areas can be protected and receive the vaccine, which will be of benefit to everyone across the entire province. That’s why we’ve had to postpone some of the scheduled surgeries. That’s why we’re rolling out more people to help, with deployment of forces from different areas.

That’s why we’re having to transfer patients, in some cases, to make sure that we can use our entire health system—every single part of it in every part of this province—to save lives. That’s the goal. That’s the plan. That’s what we’re doing.

COVID-19 response

Mr. Mike Schreiner: Speaker, my question is for the Premier.

On February 11, the chair of your science advisory table predicted a disaster if the government eased restrictions. The government did indeed ease restrictions, against the public advice of many public health care officials and scientists, and the disaster is here. Instead of paid sick days and safe workplaces, the Premier, on Friday, closed playgrounds and enhanced police powers. Public health officials were shocked and angry, and yet the government today keeps saying they are following the advice of scientists and public health officials.

Speaker, will the Premier commit today to sharing the scientific data and public health table advice that led to his decision to close playgrounds and institute carding instead of focusing on making workplaces safe and helping essential workers stay safe in the workplace?

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

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you to the member for the question.

I can certainly advise that all of the information that was provided to us by the science advisory table has been provided to you and provided to the people of Ontario. Dr. Brown has been very outstanding in providing public health measures—the advice of the science advisory table, what is happening across Ontario.

What we’ve seen in the last month or so is an incredible rise in the number of cases due to the variants of concern. We anticipated that based on what they told us, and we have been building up—building up our hospital capacity, building up our human health resources, trying to build up our vaccine supply. We are working with the federal government, but several of the shipments have been delayed. Notwithstanding that, we are working very hard to get as many needles into as many arms as possible in order to stop the transmission and protect the people of Ontario.

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

Mr. Mike Schreiner: Speaker, I asked that question because public trust is vital to combatting this pandemic. How can we build public trust when so many public health officials, doctors, nurses and scientists and other experts are essentially saying that the government is not following their advice?

Even one of their own caucus members, the member from Scarborough Centre, put out a letter asking for the data.

How can we expect the public to be on our side if we’re not going to be open and honest with them?

Dr. Jüni talked about Friday being the darkest day of his career.

I’m pleading, will the government please release the data and be transparent? Have the information accessible to the people of Ontario so we can indeed all be toge