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March 25, 2026

44th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2026-Mar-25 (PDF)

L054 - Wed 25 Mar 2026 / Mer 25 mar 2026

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 25 March 2026 Mercredi 25 mars 2026

Orders of the Day

Supply Act, 2026 / Loi de crédits de 2026

House sittings

Members’ Statements

Ismaili community

Ismaili community

Ismaili community

Bloomland in Oz

Addiction services

Hellenic Heritage Month

Student assistance

Carrousel of the Nations

Birth of member’s son

Introduction of Visitors

Member’s birthday

Question Period

Government accountability

Minister’s letter / Anti-racism activities

Ontario budget

Education issues

Laboratory services

Minister’s letter

Public transit

Student assistance

Government accountability

Energy policies

Municipal restructuring

Conservation authorities

Notice of dissatisfaction

Deferred Votes

Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 / Loi de 2026 visant à maintenir les criminels derrière les barreaux

Introduction of Visitors

Nowruz

Introduction of Bills

P. Gregor Medicine Professional Corporation Act, 2026

2417633 Ontario Limited Act, 2026

KCI Property Investment Inc. Act, 2026

778624 Ontario Limited Act, 2026

Step by Step Investments Inc. Act, 2026

2771280 Ontario Inc. Act, 2026

1092167 Ontario Inc. Act, 2026

R&J Drago Consultants Inc. Act, 2026

Anti-Scab Labour Act, 2026 / Loi de 2026 sur les briseurs de grève

Petitions

Education funding

Student assistance

Student assistance

Student assistance

Student assistance

Education funding

Education funding

Education funding

Health care services

Veterans

Education funding

Education funding

Pharmacare

Education funding

Orders of the Day

Supply Act, 2026 / Loi de crédits de 2026

Supply Act, 2026 / Loi de crédits de 2026

Private Members’ Public Business

Protecting Renters from Unfair Above Guideline Rent Increases Act, 2026 / Loi de 2026 visant à protéger les locataires contre les augmentations injustes de loyer supérieures au taux légal

Adjournment Debate

Education issues

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Supply Act, 2026 / Loi de crédits de 2026

Ms. Mulroney moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 95,

An Act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 / Projet de loi 95, Loi autorisant l’utilisation de certaines sommes pour l’exercice se terminant le 31 mars 2026.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Honourable Caroline Mulroney.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Good morning. It is my honour to rise today to speak to the Supply Act. I would like to begin by noting that I will be sharing my time with my colleagues and parliamentary assistants, George Darouze and Bill Rosenberg.

The procedural exercise we are undertaking today is required every fiscal year and it ensures that government spending receives proper legislative oversight. The passage of the Supply Act represents the final approval of all spending by the government of Ontario and legislative offices for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

In simpler terms, it is the point when the Legislature formally authorizes the use of public funds. This step marks the conclusion of the annual financial cycle when members of the House give their full and democratic approval for the spending as outlined in the expenditure estimates. This is more than just routine procedure. The passage of the Supply Act is a vital part how we uphold transparency, accountability and responsible government. For that reason, the Supply Act plays an essential role in supporting a healthy and functioning democracy.

At the outset of this debate, I would like to take a moment to outline the key steps in the annual fiscal cycle, beginning with the release of the budget. The budget sets out the government’s fiscal plan and priorities for the next year.

Après l’adoption du budget, le gouvernement dépose le budget des dépenses qui présente en détail les prévisions de dépenses des ministères et des bureaux de l’Assemblée législative. Au besoin, un budget supplémentaire des dépenses peut être déposé pour couvrir des pressions qui excèdent les autorisations existantes. Ces crédits sont examinés par les comités législatifs, puis font l’objet d’un rapport à l’Assemblée.

À l’issue de l’examen en comité, le gouvernement présente une motion de concurrence afin que l’ensemble des crédits, qu’ils aient été examinés ou non, soient mis aux voix dans le cadre de la Loi de crédits. Ce qui nous amène à l’étape actuelle, soit la prise en considération de la Loi de crédits devant l’Assemblée.

Il est important de préciser que le gouvernement ne soumet aucune nouvelle dépense aujourd’hui. Le gouvernement demande uniquement l’approbation des dépenses prévues dans les crédits de 2025-2026 qui reflètent les engagements et les priorités dévoilés dans le budget de 2025 et l’énoncé économique de l’automne. Ces engagements sont au coeur de notre plan, qui vise à protéger les travailleurs et les entreprises de l’Ontario contres les tarifs douaniers imposés par les États-Unis.

Ils contribuent également à l’objectif de notre gouvernement de faire de l’Ontario l’endroit le plus concurrentiel du G7 pour investir, créer des emplois et pour faire des affaires. Parallèlement, notre travail renforce la capacité de la province à offrir des soins de santé, une éducation et d’autres services publics essentiels de grande qualité.

All of this is done with a continued commitment to maintaining a responsible fiscal path. Our government’s fiscal approach is guided by one single and simple fact, and that is that every single dollar spent by government is provided by our province’s hard-working taxpayers.

At Treasury Board, our responsibility to Ontario’s taxpayers is always at the forefront of every decision that we make. That sense of responsibility is inseparable from our commitment to transparency. This commitment is reflected in the fact that for the eighth year in a row, our government has received a clean audit opinion from the Auditor General. This is a significant achievement. The independent Auditor General has carefully reviewed the government’s financial statements, and she has approved them with a clean audit opinion. The fact that this government has received this clean audit opinion for eight consecutive years speaks to our steadfast dedication to openness and to transparency.

Madame la Présidente, alors que la province continue de faire face à la menace tarifaire persistante, il est plus important que jamais de maintenir notre engagement envers une gestion des finances publiques responsable. Les choix financiers que nous faisons aujourd’hui façonneront les possibilités qui s’offrent aux générations futures.

Dès le début des pressions économiques exercées par les États-Unis sur l’Ontario, nous avons été clairs : notre gouvernement ne ménagera aucun effort pour protéger notre province, nos entreprises et notre population.

Nous ne pouvons pas nous opposer aux tarifs américains tout en tolérant des obstacles similaires à l’intérieur de notre propre pays. Cela ne fait simplement pas de sens. C’est pourquoi je suis fière que l’Ontario soit un chef de file dans les efforts visant à faciliter le commerce intérieur.

Avec la Loi de 2025 pour protéger l’Ontario en favorisant le libre-échange au Canada, ainsi que de nouveaux accords conclus avec 10 provinces et territoires, notre gouvernement élimine les obstacles au commerce intérieur, améliore la mobilité de la main-d’oeuvre et élargit les possibilités pour les entreprises et pour les travailleurs ontariens.

Dans le cadre de cet effort, l’Ontario supprime l’ensemble des exceptions restantes en vertu de l’Accord de libre-échange canadien.

Madam Speaker, there is much more that I could say about the government’s plan to protect Ontario, but in closing, it is my honour to participate in the final procedural process of the fiscal cycle today.

Now my colleague PA George Darouze will take it from here, after which PA Bill Rosenberg will conclude the government’s portion of this debate.

I urge all members to support the passage of the Supply Act in order that government spending can be authorized for the current fiscal year.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Further debate?

Mr. Jeff Burch: I’m pleased to stand up and offer some comments on the spending of the government in general. This is an opportunity to talk about all kinds of things that the government spends money on, and issues in our ridings as well. I appreciate the opportunity.

I’ve got a few topics I wanted to discuss, but I wanted to start with—as many people know, we’ve had quite an interesting couple of months in Niagara with talk about amalgamation and governance issues. It has been a real distraction, and this government seems to like distracting from the business that we really should be focusing on, like health care and education and support for university students.

I received a letter from a number of councillors, in particular from one regional councillor in Niagara, Haley Bateman, who offered some comments asking for a new deal with municipalities. This is nothing new and something that the government could embark on that would really help communities at the grassroots level. There are so many problems that municipalities are facing, and they’re feeling abandoned by this government.

These are some of the points that regional councillors have been making to me as they feel disrespected recently by comments that the Premier has made and that others have made about the jobs of councillors, in particular, part-time municipal councillors who are hard-working and not very well paid. All three of the members from Niagara are former municipally elected folks. I remember I sat on a St. Catharines council with my colleague from St. Catharines, and we were paid, I think, $18,000 at the time for an incredibly difficult job. Regional councillors—it’s like a full-time job; they call it a part-time job—are making about $45,000.

But they wanted to point out that a lot of the comments from Conservatives recently in Niagara have been about tax increases. There has been a lot of misinformation about the reason for tax increases in Niagara and municipalities across Ontario, and I just wanted to bring up a few points that regional councillors have made to me about the tax increases in recent years.

Policing in communities all over Ontario—understand this: Policing is 39% of the Niagara regional budget. The councillors say, “I can guarantee you that will grow every year with the changes this government is making and lack of support for communities,” and each change falls on the municipal taxpayer, not on the province.

Our EMS—and my colleague and I from Niagara were out on the picket line for an information picket during negotiations for Niagara EMS workers recently, with CUPE 911. They’re funded to serve 500,000 people, but they are asked to serve 13 million: “Speaking with a member of CUPE 911, they told me the number of phone calls ‘explodes’ in the summer. This is not sustainable—and these are incredibly stressful jobs on a good day. So as the region negotiates with CUPE 911, we have to take into consideration”—that their contract is not sufficient for workers. They’re asking for parity with firefighters and police.

They’re not getting the mental supports that they need. And the province is not providing those supports or financial supports to the community so they can fund that in the collective agreements of these workers.

Some 36% of EMS workers are considered part-time, but they have to maintain 36 hours a week. These part-timers get no benefits, and that needs to change. EMS workers deal with incredible stress issues like PTSD, and many of them don’t have benefits and are not getting proper mental health support. So congratulations to CUPE 911, and I hope the government will listen and start to fund municipalities so that they can properly support workers, like EMS workers in Niagara.

Homelessness and housing services: Homelessness, obviously, is a provincial jurisdiction, but, over the years, so many responsibilities have been downloaded to municipalities. The province, these councillors say, funds homelessness, but they don’t fund housing: “In 2025, just last year, there were 5,097 visits to the ER by people in Niagara who are not housed”—and those statistics come from Niagara Health. This is for “flu, pneumonia, cellulitis,” issues that are highly preventable if we were investing in housing and those other supports. This was a 51.7% increase over the previous year. That’s how costs are skyrocketing, not just in Niagara but in regions and municipalities across Ontario.

This is causing tremendous stress on our downtown. I know my colleagues in St. Catherines and Niagara Falls are dealing with those issues as well. My constituency office is right in downtown Welland, and a lot of folks are living on the street right outside my office. When I go there to work, I talk to many of them living under the bridge across from my office, along the Welland Canal. It’s sad to see, and it’s sad to see the increase of that over the last number of years.

I want to congratulate another hard-working municipal councillor from Welland, Sharmila Setaram. The councillor has been working very hard. She’s the downtown councillor in Welland. She’s been going around to businesses talking about this increase in poverty, homelessness and mental health and addictions issues in the downtown and its effect on businesses. I want to just congratulate her for all the hard work that she does and for her care for the local small businesses in the community.

She says, “Local businesses are identifying a clear gap in protections for commercial tenants in Ontario. Unlike residential tenants, they rely almost entirely on private lease agreements and have limited accessible recourse when issues arise.”

The businesses in Welland are experiencing:

“—disruptions to essential services such as heat and electricity;

“—unsafe or unsuitable working conditions”—I have staff that work downtown too. We’re all talking about extra security in our offices and our homes as we see things getting worse. Downtown businesses are really suffering with these issues.

On East Main Street in Welland, there’s a mixed-use building that lost hydro for several days, disabling critical safety systems and requiring the fire department to intervene. Enforcement action was eventually taken. Businesses and residents were left to navigate the immediate impacts without clear timelines for resolution.

When enforcement results in fines, as many businesses are struggling to deal with the homelessness issue and being fined as well, it places a lot of stress on those businesses. They want:

“—enforceable timelines for maintenance and restoration of essential services;

“—protections against sudden or disruptive changes;

“—accessible dispute resolution options outside of the court system;

“—consideration of compensation mechanisms when operations are interrupted.”

There’s a whole list of recommendations for many small businesses in downtown Welland. This is something, if the government was really concerned about business, where there’s lots of opportunities they could find to support municipalities and to support small businesses with issues that support actions taken by the municipal governments to address homelessness.

Of course, it wouldn’t hurt for the provincial government to listen to every expert out there and opposition parties and increase social assistance rates, which are disgustingly low and are really just sponsoring more and more poverty in downtown areas.

Congratulations to this councillor for the work that she’s doing. My office is certainly going to be working with her and bringing suggestions here to the Legislature on ways to help downtown areas with poverty and homelessness.

I want to talk a little bit about OSAP. There’s obviously an issue that people feel very, very strongly about. We had a large protest here yesterday. Students and families are outraged by the changes being made to OSAP under the guise of sustainability, as if slapping extra fees on students and taking away their access to loans somehow addresses the problem when all it really does is place the financial stress on students.

I had a number of communications to my office that I wanted to raise on behalf of these constituents. One is from Melissa Hampson. She says, “Dear Mr. Burch, I’m writing to you on behalf of my three children, two of whom are currently attending Niagara College, in the baking and pastry arts program and the carpentry program. My third child, Derek, is anxiously awaiting a response from the highly prestigious Sheridan College in the hopes of being accepted to their theatre tech program. He’s currently attending Welland Centennial with a specialist high-skills major in information and communications technology.

“All three worked too hard to get where they are and I will support them however I can. My husband and I have worked hard since they were born to save what we could to help them reach their academic goals. Ford’s cuts to OSAP and changes to tuition are very concerning to us. I would like to know what you as our representative plan to do to fight this. Ford is making a mess of everything and change is necessary. This government needs to know that the arts matter. They need to know that we are extremely stressed as a family.”

Thank you for your communication, your letter, Melissa. We’re going to work, as an opposition, as hard as we can to reverse these changes to OSAP.

Another letter: “I have three children who are very talented in their skill set. Each one discovered their passion in high school and worked hard, earning honours all four or five years. So far, two of them have pursued their goals in post-secondary education. My daughter, Alex, loves to bake, so she’s completing the baking and pastry arts program. Talk about building homes and infrastructure: My son Zack loves to build stuff, so he’s learning to be a carpenter. My youngest is completing grade 12 and hopes to attend Sheridan College.”

This letter from George and his wife talks about the difficulties that they face as a family. We know that groceries are getting more expensive. We know that gas is getting more expensive. Families are under incredible stress, and this is just another affordability problem that we’re piling onto families. We’re going to work as hard as we can, as I’ve said, to get this government to reverse these changes and properly fund OSAP.

I want to thank all of the constituents that have—I’ve got many, many letters, many, many emails from them. I want to thank them for the time that they took to send those.

I would also like to talk, Speaker, about health care. Health care in Niagara is obviously a huge issue and is right across the province. There is a huge gap between what we hear in the Legislature from the minister, who—I saw Colin D’Mello yesterday joking that she was missing lately and we need to put her picture on a milk carton. I don’t blame her for being missing, because the policies have been missing in action as well in health care, and hospitals across Ontario are dealing with tremendous deficits.

The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario projected a $10.7-billion health funding shortfall by 2027-28. They say that based on the current spending plan of the Ford government, that is going to increase but is not keeping up with inflation.

The Ontario Hospital Association highlighted growing financial strain in its pre-budget consultations. They say that many hospitals are projecting year-end deficits, experiencing eroding working capital and are unable to properly plan due to revenue uncertainty. Yet their cost pressures, their expenses, are rising by more than 6% annually, driven by population growth, aging population and inflation, so that’s not going to stop. And there are annual funding increases of only 4%, resulting in a structural deficit of approximately $1 billion.

The president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association stated, “Unfortunately, many hospitals are also grappling with significant challenges.” They are predicting, “year-end deficits, have eroded their working capital, and, in the absence of certainty about their revenues, cannot properly plan for the future.”

These pressures, of course, create situations in hospitals where they are cutting not only frills, but essential things. They’re making things more expensive, and folks like cancer patients and those that need dialysis are facing more and more financial pressures to pay for things in the health care system.

One of those examples—and we’ve talked about it; my colleagues have talked about it—is hospital parking. That is a direct result of rising deficits in hospitals, and those parking rates are going up and up as hospitals struggle to deal with those deficits. Those are costs that have to be footed by families with people suffering from cancer, people who need dialysis, people who are visiting. I’ve talked to people who’ve spent $7,000, $8,000 in parking in several months just visiting relatives in the hospital. It costs every time they go to the hospital to park there. That’s just a tax on sick people.

In Niagara region, we’re already seeing the impact. Niagara Health reported a $26-million deficit in the last fiscal year. Their ongoing efforts to find savings included the elimination of 98 positions, which Niagara Health has said will save them $9 million. It was reported the positions include cuts to recreational therapy, reduced PSW coverage and reduced administration. My colleague from St. Catharines very capably raised this issue yesterday in her member’s statement, and I want to thank her for doing that.

These cuts are on top of the cuts that have already been happening in Niagara for the past several years due to budget constraints and lack of staffing, and no one in the Legislature is a stranger to us talking about the cuts that have happened in Niagara. I’ve talked about the Welland Hospital for seven, almost eight years now here in the Legislature, and it just closed its long-term-care facility.

The Welland Hospital site had a long-term-care home that’s now going to close in June. Its operating licence was not renewed, and no one from this government or the local health system planned ahead, so that’s just a complete loss of over 100 beds—about 117 beds—in Niagara. We heard all of the excuses when it happened, but there really is no excuse in this day and age with the lack of long-term-care beds for us to lose over 100 beds due to a lack of planning. With an aging population, the loss of 75 long-term-care beds and 40 long-term-care interim beds will have a profound impact on our community.

I’ve talked to the workers. Myself and our leader went to the hospital, toured it, spoke to the residents, spoke to their families and met with them inside the lobby of the long-term-care facility that was closing. I’ll tell you, it was a really sad time. Over 100 workers, who the residents just love—excellent care at this facility, and it is being closed due to neglect by this government. There’s no excuse for closing long-term-care beds without first having a replacement for that long-term-care licence in this day and age.

The operating rooms at the Welland Hospital remained closed for several months starting last June due to major water damage, which is a direct result of our aging health care infrastructure, which has been ignored. The one good thing in the last budget was that finally the government came forward with a planning grant, so Welland Hospital is slated to be renovated.

Right now, the community is in discussions with Niagara Health to make sure that it is a full-service hospital once it’s renovated because the current plan, due to lack of funding from this government, is to continue to not have surgical beds after hours at the Welland Hospital. So that’s a conversation that’s going to continue in our community, and I’m going to continue working with the Niagara Health Coalition and the Ontario Health Coalition, who have done a fantastic job standing up for the community.

Welland Hospital was actually slated to close under the Liberals, and people in Niagara can’t believe that a government would actually close one of the main hospitals, but that was the plan. My predecessor Cindy Forster and the mayor of Welland and others banded together with the health coalition, and they forced a reversal of that decision. People can see today how crucial that hospital is and what a disaster that would have been if the Liberals had been allowed to shut that hospital down, which was the plan prior to 2018.

But things have continued to deteriorate. We’ve had floods. We’ve had surgical procedures that had to be rescheduled, creating a lot of stress on families, because that infrastructure has been allowed to fall apart.

Niagara Health announced ongoing reduced hours at both centres in Port Colborne and Fort Erie for the summer season due to a shortage of physicians, and we’ve continued to see reduced hours at holiday times. That is a continuing debate in our community because due to a lack of health care funding and a lack of support for our hospital and ongoing hospital deficits, Niagara Health is planning to close those urgent cares in Port Colborne and Fort Erie, placing huge pressure on the rest of the system. Those cuts are being fought in our community.

I wanted to also raise the issue of hallway health care, Speaker. We’re seeing that more than ever in our community. I spent a lot of time at the hospital over Christmas with a family member who was there for weeks at a time, and I couldn’t believe, in emergency, seeing the number of people taking up beds in the emergency room and in the hallways suffering from dementia.

I had a meeting with the Ontario Medical Association recently, and they informed me—I know the government knows this—that the number of people suffering from dementia in Ontario is going to increase by 20% in the next 10 years. We can’t even deal with it right now with the resources that this government is making available. The emergency department over Christmas was filled with people suffering from dementia, and that is the worst place someone with dementia can ever be. They’re not supervised.

They don’t have the staff to look after each person who is in the emergency ward, so they have to be restrained, strapped to gurneys, sometimes in hallways. These are elderly people with dementia. It was absolutely shocking to me. About a third of the patients in the emergency department at one time when I was there were dementia patients—the worst thing that can ever happen to someone suffering from dementia

Those folks are there because we don’t have the proper support in the community. There aren’t the proper home care supports. There aren’t proper medical supports. There aren’t enough geriatric clinics that administer medication and are places where families can take their loved ones who are suffering from dementia. And if they are released from the hospital, there is not consistent supports in the community, so you’re getting different home care agencies providing support and inconsistent care—incredible stress on families. This all has a toll on families.

It takes up hospital beds in our hospital, which cost almost $2,000 a day, as opposed to just providing the proper supports in the community.

There are all kinds of things that this government can do that they are not doing, and the situation—my family has dealt with a number of medical emergencies over the last 10 years. My father suffered from a stroke about 10 years ago, and we were saying then how bad the system is. My father spent 36 hours on a bed in emergency in a hallway after having a stroke. He ended up paralyzed. He was a victim of hallway medicine. We thought, how can it get worse than this? Well, somehow this government has succeeded in making our health care system even worse than it was under the Liberals. It’s absolutely incredible.

It has just gotten to the point where people in the community are so frustrated, especially if you’re trying to care for an elderly loved one and you end up in the hospital over and over and over again because the proper supports are not there in the community, which would actually be much more cost effective.

There are all kinds of solutions to these issues. We have brought those solutions in the form of motions and private members’ bills to this government, but they don’t want to support those clear initiatives that we’re suggesting to make our health care system better. Instead, the Minister of Health is just missing in action.

Those are my comments on what’s happening in my community, the things that I care about, the communications I’ve received from members in my community.

We’re going to continue to fight. We have a budget tomorrow. We’re going to fight for better health care, more affordability, proper supports for our children, restoring OSAP. Those are the issues that our constituents are telling us they care about, and those are the things that we believe this government should be spending money on.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Further debate?

Mrs. Karen McCrimmon: You’ve heard us talk about the critical needs of Ontarians today: a family doctor, an affordable economy, an education system that works, a job. But life only keeps getting harder and more expensive.

Since 2018, Ontario’s provincial debt will have grown by $180 billion in 10 years, rising from roughly $320 billion to well over $500 billion by the next fiscal year—half a trillion dollars of debt. Where did this $180 billion go? What do we have to show for it? More provincial policies creating hardships for municipalities, more crime, more homelessness, more people in distress, longer wait times, more downloading to municipal levels. That debt places Ontario among the most indebted provinces in Canada. On a per-person basis, Ontarians carry one of the highest debt burdens in the country, far higher than provinces like Alberta and British Columbia.

Furthermore, Ontario’s debt per person has risen significantly from 2017 to 2027, reflecting sustained provincial borrowing. In 2017, Ontario’s debt per person was about $22,000. By fiscal year 2024-25, the per-person net debt had increased to $26,500, ranking second highest in Canada, behind Newfoundland and Labrador.

Projections from the 2025 Ontario budget indicate that net debt will reach $501 billion by 2027-28, translating to a per-person share of roughly $33,000 or $34,000, depending on population estimates. This represents a more than 50% increase in per-person debt since 2017, driven by ongoing deficits and rising interest costs.

The debt burden is expected to continue growing, with interest payments alone projected to exceed $16 billion annually by 2025, diverting funds from public services like health care and education.

Alberta has recently reduced its debt significantly, while provinces like New Brunswick have made deliberate efforts to bring debt down. Ontario, by contrast, has seen steady increases without the same level of long-term correction.

So what is this government spending all this money on? I can tell you, it isn’t people.

In Ontario, the priorities are wrong. This government has consistently chosen the wrong spending path in so many areas. People are struggling, and there’s no help for them. There seems to be plenty of money for fantasy and luxury infrastructure projects like spas, airports, convention centres and tunnels, but nothing for people. And life for people just keeps getting harder.

Today I want to talk about something that rarely makes headlines, rarely wins elections and yet quietly underpins every aspect of our society: our justice and public safety system.

In Ontario, we pride ourselves on being a place of fairness, safety and opportunity, but those values don’t exist on their own. They depend on systems that are functional, accessible and effective. Right now, those systems—our courts, our prisons, our policing and our emergency preparedness—are under serious strain. Unless we make significant, meaningful investments, we risk undermining the very foundation of justice and safety in this province.

Across Ontario, our courts are backlogged. Cases take months, sometimes years, to be heard. Victims wait for closure. Accused individuals wait in limbo. Families are left in uncertainty. When courts are underfunded, we see fewer judges, fewer prosecutors, fewer clerks and fewer support staff. Courtrooms sit idle, not because there’s no need, but because there aren’t enough resources to operate them. Cases are delayed, sometimes withdrawn or stayed or dismissed because they cannot be processed in a timely manner, and public confidence erodes.

We cannot call ourselves a fair society if timely justice is a luxury instead of a guarantee. True public safety requires a coordinated system. It requires partnerships between police, social services like supportive housing and mental health professionals, and community organizations. Investing in policing must go hand in hand with investing in the broader supports that prevent crises before they happen, because the goal isn’t just to respond to emergencies; it’s to prevent them from happening in the first place.

We need stronger investment in emergency preparedness, better coordination between agencies, clear response plans, modern communication systems and the resources to act quickly when it happens. Because when disaster strikes, there is no time to build capacity; we either have it or we don’t. Preparedness saves lives. It protects communities and it reduces long-term costs by preventing small crises from becoming major ones.

Another critical part of our system is our correctional facilities. Ontario’s prisons are overcrowded, staff are overworked and rehabilitation programs are underfunded or unavailable. But here is the reality: The vast majority of individuals in our prison system will eventually return to our communities. So we have a choice: We can invest in rehabilitation, education, supportive housing, mental health support, addiction treatment and job training, or we can continue cycling people through a system that fails to prepare them for reintegration. One path reduces crime; the other guarantees its repetition. And the investment path will actually save money over time.

Judges, lawyers, police officers, court staff, correctional officers, paramedics, emergency planners—they’re all facing increased pressure. Burnout is rising. Retention is becoming more difficult. If we want a high-functioning system, we must invest in the people who make it work. That means better training, better working conditions and the resources they need to succeed.

Some might ask, can we afford all of this? But the better question is, can we afford not to? An underfunded justice and public safety system comes with hidden costs. When courts are delayed, costs increase. People reoffend due to lack of rehabilitation. When policing is stretched too thin, response time grows and trust declines.

What does a meaningful investment look like? Expanding court capacity, strengthening police services, building integrated public safety systems, upgrading correctional facilities and funding rehabilitation programs and supportive housing. This isn’t about being tough on crime or soft on crime; it’s being smart on justice.

Trust is the centre of everything—trust that the law is applied fairly, trust that help will come when it’s needed, trust that our institutions are strong and capable and prepared. Ontario has the resources, the expertise and the responsibility to lead. It needs action.

Do you know that there are solutions that actually end up saving us money? Do you know that supportive housing costs less than 30% of what a year in jail costs the taxpayer? Why wouldn’t you choose to invest in solutions that actually make things better and save you money? Why would this government choose differently? Your plan is not working; it’s actually worse.

In closing, Speaker, public safety and our justice system are absolutely essential to our well-being as a province. Investing wisely with proven programs that actually promote a healthier and safer society are investments worth making.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Further debate?

MPP Bill Rosenberg: It is my honour in my capacity as parliamentary assistant to Minister Mulroney to rise to speak to the Supply Act today. Minister Mulroney gave a full explanation of the procedural necessity of the Supply Act, so I will be happy to focus my remarks on two different topics.

Firstly, I will discuss the province’s current fiscal situation. This picture will be framed by the third quarter release, the government’s most recent financial disclosure.

Secondly, Madam Speaker, I will be happy to discuss the government’s plan to build. This information was most recently detailed in the 2025 fall economic statement. I would like to remind the House that both releases in and among themselves illustrate the government’s full transparency and openness when it comes to the finances of this province. The government has remained steadfastly committed to these principles, and I believe the results speak for themselves.

Just last month, the government released its third quarter financial results. This release outlined some of the results of the government’s fiscally responsible approach. It is an approach that has never been more important because the province continues to face the disruption of our long-standing trading relationship with the United States and, it should be added, the overall economic uncertainty that continues to adversely affect economies around the globe. Despite these factors, I am pleased to tell members that the positive third quarter results reflect the government’s responsible path.

They clearly show how the government is protecting workers, supporting growth and keeping costs down for families.

The government’s plan is working. The province’s finances are in the strongest position they have been in in more than a decade. Because of the resilience of the good people of this province and the hard and prudent decisions of the government, Ontario’s balance sheet is strong, and this strong position will enable government to act quickly to protect our workers and communities. This means making investments in strategic priorities that will finally unleash the province’s economy. It has been said many times, but it bears repeating: The government’s stated goal is to make Ontario the most competitive jurisdiction in the entire G7 to do business.

Now to the most recent results. The province’s real gross domestic product—GDP—increased by 0.5% in the third calendar quarter, supporting the gains in net trade. This is impressive given the economic context. Overall, the province’s real GDP rose by an estimated 1.2% in 2025. As well, net debt-to-GDP is now projected to be 36.9%, a decrease of 0.8 percentage points from previous projections. These two results are stronger than what was expected at the time of the 2025 budget. Again, considering the economic context, this is striking. Both the results show Ontario’s resilience in the face of unfair US tariffs.

Also, they both show that Ontario will not wave the white flag when it faces economic uncertainty.

In terms of the provincial deficit, I’m happy to note that the third quarter release contains some positive indications. The province’s 2025-26 deficit is now projected to be $13.4 billion, an improvement of $0.1 billion from the outlook presented in the 2025 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review. At the time, revenues were projected to improve to $223.7 billion, $600 million higher than expected in the 2025 fall economic statement.

As presented in the 2025 fall economic statement, the government is forecasting a deficit of $7.8 billion in 2026-27 and a surplus of $0.2 billion in 2027-28. It was not that long ago that a surplus in Ontario’s provincial budget was not considered a possibility. Now, because of the careful fiscal management of the government, the latest projections are indicating that we are only a couple of years away from this milestone. To release future generations from the burden of debt is undeniable positive news.

Madam Speaker, when I said that Ontario’s finances are in the strongest place they have been in a decade, I do not want members to just take my word for it. The government has always valued and respected unbiased third-party opinions, and it is no different in this financial realm.

Members might remember that in 2024, S&P Global and Morningstar DBRS upgraded Ontario’s credit rating. This was noteworthy because it reversed the trend of credit downgrades. The timely reversal clearly illustrates that Ontario’s prudent and responsible fiscal plan is working.

A higher credit rating alters investors’ view of the province. In fact, Ontario can be seen as a lower-risk borrower. This reduces Ontario’s borrowing costs, and the upshot of that is obvious: It supports investments in the province, creating more jobs while financing the government’s historic infrastructure plans.

Since the initial credit rating upgrades, Ontario has seen a flood of new international buyers of its bonds. That is an indication that the world believes in the economic future of this province. I am happy to tell the House that Ontario continues to have the lowest interest rate of all provinces in the 30-year term. Of course, that first upgrade was a couple years ago; however, that momentum has continued last year. In 2025, all four major credit rating agencies—Moody’s, Fitch, Morningstar DBRS and S&P Global—affirmed Ontario’s credit rating. In short, they projected Ontario’s economic outlook as stable.

The word “stable” might not have the same meaning for some members that it really should have. Like all fiscal information I am going to relate today, it must be seen within the global economic context. Amidst this storm, as our number one trade partner inflicts mutually destructive tariff policies, achieving stability is a triumph. It reflects Ontario’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability.

The third quarter release noted that revenues in 2025-26 are now projected to be $3.8 billion higher than forecasted in the 2025 budget. Additionally, overall program expense in 2025-26 is now projected to be $219.9 billion, $3.6 billion higher than the 2025 budget projection. It is a credit to the government’s fiscal projections that these numbers are close to offsetting each other.

Madam Speaker, our government has taken the opportunity to invest in what can be accurately described as the most ambitious capital plan in Ontario’s history. The government has planned investments over 10 years totalling more than $201 billion. That is money that will rebuild this province, including highways, transit and community infrastructure. This money will keep workers on the job, strengthen Ontario’s economy and ensure communities thrive for generations to come. Of course, this includes tackling a major problem that has been holding our province back for decades. The cost of gridlock is real.

Who amongst us hasn’t wasted valuable time sitting in traffic, wondering, “Why?” Bad traffic has a stranglehold in this province. It delays the movement of goods for businesses and, more importantly, it steals time away from our families and our loved ones.

The Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis estimates that the economic impact of gridlock in Ontario was $56.4 billion in 2024. If these congestion levels remain unaltered, the annual cost to Ontario’s economy could reach $108 billion by 2044. That is more than $100 billion down the tubes.

That is why the government has begun to get shovels in the ground to build the highways and roads that will finally alleviate this problem. To get people and goods moving efficiently, Ontario has started construction of Highway 413. This new 52-kilometre, 400-series highway will better connect the transportation network across Halton, Peel, and York regions. The new highway will also shorten travel times by up to 30 minutes per trip.

After years of careful planning and consideration, the corridor will extend from Highway 400 in the east to the Highway 401/407 Express Toll Route interchange area in the west, and it will include a six-lane, 400-series highway and a planned dedicated transitway. As you can imagine, a project of this scope and magnitude takes an incredible amount of planning and patience.

To give a status update, the government has awarded the first two contracts to begin construction. That marks a significant milestone in the province’s plan to fight gridlock and to get drivers moving. Of course, the construction of this project will not be done in a vacuum. This impressive project will support more than 6,000 jobs per year and contribute more than $1 billion to the Ontario GDP. As of last fall, the province has completed 90% of the preliminary design work, and the work is actively under way to acquire the necessary properties for highway construction and transitway protection.

As further testament to the government’s commitment to transparency and responsibility, impacted landowners have been engaged and are being provided project updates and information on the acquisition process. This work is done in tandem with ongoing property acquisition discussions with impacted landowners.

As well, the government is advancing early works construction projects to get shovels in the ground for this project, including an embankment at the Highway 401 and Highway 407 interchange, the Highway 10 resurfacing and underpass and the Bovaird Drive underpass.

There are many projects that are part of the government’s unprecedented infrastructure. So along with the building of Highway 413, I will highlight the work that is being done on the Bradford Bypass.

As Minister Mulroney knows all too well, the people of her riding spent 50 years urging action on this highway. That includes the growers of the Holland Marsh, Canada’s most productive vegetable-growing region. For decades, they appealed to previous governments, seeking a commitment that never came. It was not until our government and her advocacy and leadership that the necessity of this project was taken seriously. Madam Speaker, we are helping to prepare York region and Simcoe county for rapid population growth with this project.

The Bradford Bypass will feature a new four-lane highway to relieve congestion on existing east-west local roads and connect Highways 400 and 404. The new 16-kilometre highway will relieve gridlock, save commuters time and keep goods moving across the greater Golden Horseshoe.

Last year, the province issued two requests for proposals to complete the detailed design for both the central and east sections of the bypass. Crews have completed tree clearing along the proposed route of the west

section of the Bradford Bypass to streamline utility relocations and clear a path for the bypass. In addition, a southbound lane on Highway 400 connecting to the Bradford Bypass is currently under construction.

This project will radically change the flow of traffic in one of the busiest corridors in the country. Once complete, the Bradford Bypass will save drivers an estimated 35 minutes in travel time, compared to using local roads. And much like the building of Highway 413, the benefits will be felt throughout the province’s economy. During construction, the project is expected to create up to 2,200 jobs per year and contribute up to $286 million to the province’s GDP.

Madam Speaker, it should be noted that the government’s ambitious infrastructure plan does not just benefit southern Ontario. The government is also making major investments in highways in the north to improve road safety, connect communities and unlock economic opportunities. There are many projects, including investing in Geraldton’s Main Street rehabilitation project, a critical road infrastructure project in Greenstone that will be the gateway to the Ring of Fire.

The government has also awarded a contract for the detail design of a new two-lane bridge that will replace the Little Current Swing Bridge on Highway 6 in the town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands. The planning, preliminary design and environmental assessment have been completed, and the project is proceeding with the next steps with property acquisition, right-of-way designation and detail design.

In the name of both safety and convenience, the government is also working to increase passing opportunities on highways in northeastern Ontario. This includes innovative designs such as a 2+1 highway, which is a three-lane highway with a centre passing lane that changes direction approximately every two to five kilometres. This is a good example of the government’s adoption of new ideas to fix old problems.

Innovation and creativity have always informed the government’s plans, and the building of new infrastructure for this province is no exception.

The government is also expanding Highway 11/17 from two to four lanes between Thunder Bay and Nipigon; this includes from east of Highway 587 for 14.4 kilometres and from west of Highway 582 to Coughlin Road for 8.3 kilometres. These two projects are part of a larger series of projects to widen more than 100 kilometres of the highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon.

Also in eastern Ontario, the government is undertaking the widening of Highway 17 between Kenora and the Manitoba border.

Section 1 of this project was already completed last year. The broader project will widen Highway 17 from two to four lanes for approximately 40 kilometres.

It is important to note that the government worked in partnership and consultation with the local First Nations on these projects—projects that will build and improve highway infrastructure that will connect more First Nation communities to the province’s highway network.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank all the members for taking time to attend this portion of the supply debate. It was my pleasure to outline the province’s current fiscal situation and give a cursory look at the government’s substantial investments in roads and highways across the province.

Today’s discussion and subsequent vote are both important steps in approving the government’s spending for the current fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2026.

Now my colleague parliamentary assistant George Darouze will conclude the government’s portion of this debate with his remarks.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Further debate?

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: It’s always a pleasure to rise in this House and represent the wonderful people of beautiful Beaches–East York.

I’m rising today to discuss the concurrence in supply act in relation to the 2025 budget. The government may claim that this is “A Plan to Protect Ontario,” but what I see are repeated lessons about the high cost of inaction, literally and metaphorically. As my clever colleague from Don Valley West always says, never has a government spent so much to do so little. Billions of dollars in debt—hundreds of thousands of people are unemployed. The affordability and housing crisis rages on. Parents cannot find daycare, and more than 2.5 million Ontarians cannot access a family doctor.

Student funding is way down and class sizes are way up. Tens of thousands remain on the wait-list for core clinical services under the autism program, with average wait-times reaching five years—a five-year wait-time—and this is merely a snapshot of the bleak reality that this government has authored for Ontario.

I will start with education, elementary and secondary. Per-student funding at the elementary level has decreased by approximately $1,500 per student since this government was first elected. We hear horror stories of class sizes, teachers burning out and students unable to receive the help that they need, and trustees eliminated, along with access to school board committees, after completely annihilating parent and student advocacy routes. This government has placed school boards under provincial supervision, which parents have described as screaming into the void.

In my riding, I hear regular reports that parents are unable to get in touch with the supervisor assigned to their school, or that they do not know who to go to for help at all now.

The backlog of schools that need repair is monumental. I’ve been screaming into the void in this chamber about Secord public school, a beautiful school in the Main and Danforth area, if you ever come to this area. It has the largest and oldest portapack portable system in Ontario, probably in Canada. It’s usually the first area where new immigrants land in Toronto, and this is how we welcome them, with this kind of system. These kids have been in portables their whole lives, most of them.

Secord public school is always on the top five list of shovel-ready projects with the TDSB, and it’s never chosen. Actually, I will advocate for the other schools on that list, including in the Acting Speaker’s riding and in Toronto–Danforth. They don’t get chosen either. It seems the schools that get chosen for repair—finally to get repaired—are in Conservative-held ridings. Wow, it’s the haves and have-nots.

Post-secondary education? Since this government took office, students are underfunded from the beginning. and this continues throughout the whole education life cycle. This lack of investment was made even more stark when the government announced catastrophic cuts to OSAP, reducing grants from 85% to 25%.

Let us be clear that this will result in more intense poverty, greater unemployment, fewer young people will be able to buy their first homes, rising reliance on social assistance, increased experiences of being unhoused and reduced workforce capability.

The Premier’s comment to not pick “basket-weaving courses” is not advice. That is not advice. That is not leadership. It is an indication, however, of how he feels about the future of this province and how he feels about education, quite frankly. This government is completely at peace with the reality that this cut will mean that education will depend on your income, basically expanding their pay-to-play approach. Moreover, this value hierarchy assigned to paths of study is defined by the Premier.

The cost of failing to invest in Ontario’s future will disadvantage future and current generations.

ODSP, OW and social services: I mentioned that limited access to post-secondary education is intimately connected to poverty, increased social assistance and a whole gamut of socio-economic implications.

The reality is abysmal. Despite what the Premier would have us believe about ODSP and OW recipients, it is not a relaxed, comfortable or chosen life. Currently, you can receive ODSP income of up to $1,408 per month. That is the best-case scenario. I invite you to go anywhere, to any rental site, and find a basic apartment for $1,400. Now try to find one for less, so you can afford food, transit, clothing and medication.

The harmful stereotypes that this government perpetuates about social assistance and the lack of investment in programs to support program participants is exactly why unemployment is at 7.7%, homelessness is at 85,000 and poverty persists, with 1.7 million people in poverty.

Compiled with that, we have food security. Relatedly, one million people in Ontario needed the help of food banks to survive this year, with over eight million visits to a food bank. Is that something to be proud of? I’m not, yet food banks and food insecurity were not mentioned once in the 2025 budget.

What is extremely frustrating is that innovation, technology and ideas already exist or are in the process of being developed which could help address food insecurity. The government could literally sit back and wait for impactful initiatives to come to them, and the initiatives would, if you would be receptive.

Just this past week, my team met with GoodLeaf, a global leader in vertical urban agriculture. Companies like this are growing tons of produce a day with less water, less land, right here in Ontario.

Were vertical growing and similar innovations mentioned once in the 2025 budget? No—that’s a hard no. These organizations have the capacity and desire to bolster our made-in-Ontario strategy to achieve food sovereignty and address the affordability crisis. Why are we not supporting them?

Climate resilience and infrastructure: Well, we’ll start with the conservation authorities and the high cost of inaction.

We know flooding is the number one public emergency in Ontario. The average basement flood costs around $43,000—you would know; some of you have mentioned to me your basements have flooded—and the total cost of flooding across Canada is $2.9 billion, not to mention the physical and mental hardship. Why would you want this to happen to your residents when we can prevent it?

Yet this government amalgamated the 36 distinct authorities that are supposed to address floods with one-of-a-kind knowledge and expertise of our watersheds into only nine centralized bodies. Conservation authorities have raised questions and concerns about job losses, cost, the role of local voices and expert knowledge and why this government needed to do this in the first place.

Hydro: This past week, we have likely—

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Thank you.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

House sittings

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): I beg to inform the House that pursuant to standing order 9(h), the Clerk has received written notice from the government House leader indicating that a temporary change in the weekly meeting

schedule of the House is required. Therefore, the House shall commence at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 30, 2026, for the proceeding orders of the day.

Members’ Statements

Ismaili community

MPP Mohamed Firin: Madam Speaker, His Highness Prince Aga Khan is arriving in Canada, so I rise today to welcome His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan to Ontario on his first official visit to Canada as the 50th Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.

Ontario is home to a vibrant and growing Ismaili community. Tens of thousands of Ismaili Muslims contribute to the social, cultural and economic fabric of our province.

For generations, the Ismaili Imamat has advanced a powerful idea: that strong institutions, economic opportunity and pluralism are the foundations of a thriving society. That vision has shaped communities worldwide, especially here in Ontario.

Next week, His Highness will be joined by the Premier for the opening of Generations Toronto, a multi-generational housing and community centre.

Across our province, Ismaili Canadians are entrepreneurs, professionals and community builders who drive growth, create jobs and strengthen prosperity.

Globally, through the Aga Khan Development Network, that same commitment is realized through building hospitals, schools and economic systems that foster stability and self-reliance.

At a time when Ontario is focused on building more, growing our economy and competing globally, the contributions of His Highness and the Ismaili Imamat remind us that success is the strongest when grounded in service, responsibility and common good.

I welcome His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan to Ontario and thank the Ismaili community for its continued and meaningful contributions to our province.

Ismaili community

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: I rise to recognize the arrival in Ontario of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan on his first official visit following his succession last year as the imam, or spiritual leader, of the global Shia Ismaili Muslim community.

The Aga Khan’s legacy and the continuing work of the Aga Khan Development Network speak to the values that New Democrats hold dear: human dignity, inclusion and justice.

For decades, that work focused on improving the quality of life of those most in need, tackling the root causes of poverty and building stronger communities through health care, education and opportunity. It reflects a long-term commitment to human development, to restoring dignity and to ensuring people are not left behind because of poverty, war, displacement or inequality. Across some of the world’s most vulnerable regions, these institutions have helped build and expand access to care, support learning, strengthen livelihoods and build self-reliance.

At the heart of this work is the belief that every person, Speaker, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to live in safety with hope and dignity. That is a belief worth recognizing in this House.

Here in Ontario, the Ismaili community has carried some of those same values into action through service, volunteerism and profound commitment to the common good.

As we welcome His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, we must recognize and recommit ourselves to the work of building a more just, compassionate and caring province.

Democracy and pluralism are grounding principles that underpin peace and progress. Words are not enough. Let our actions speak for our values.

Ismaili community

Mr. Adil Shamji: On February 4, 2025, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan became the spiritual leader of the global Shia Ismaili Muslim community, continuing an unbroken line of Imamat spanning 50 generations.

Today I rise to welcome him to Ontario on his first official visit to Canada as imam of the time.

His Highness the Aga Khan has devoted his life to uplifting social welfare, strengthening democracy and fostering civil society worldwide, including in Ontario.

In Don Valley East, our community is home to the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Park and the Aga Khan Museum—institutions that have transformed Ontario’s cultural landscape.

These institutions are declarations of confidence in Canada and Ontario, testaments to the belief that diversity is a strength, that beauty builds bridges and that culture brings people together. As the MPP who represents some of these institutions, I know this visit will inspire reflection on service, community and pluralism. Our province is so much stronger and vibrant because of the Aga Khan’s vision and the contributions of the Ismaili community.

On behalf of this House, I proudly welcome His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan to Ontario.

Bloomland in Oz

Ms. Natalie Pierre: I’m pleased to rise today to share a truly enchanting experience taking place in my riding of Burlington right now. From January 31 to April 6, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington is welcoming visitors to its latest floral showcase, Bloomland in Oz.

Inspired by the timeless story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, this indoor experience invites guests of all ages to step into a vibrant world where nature and imagination intertwine. Featuring more than 25,000 blooming flowers, this event offers a bright escape from winter, transforming the space into a colourful landscape reminiscent of Oz itself.

Alongside the floral displays, visitors can also explore Of Wonders Wild and New, a remarkable art exhibit that brings the themes of Oz to life through contemporary woodworking. With contributions from artists across Canada, the Six Nations, Italy and Spain, as well as members of the Ontario wood carving association, this exhibit showcases incredible talent from near and far. The showcase is a wonderful example of how art and nature can come together to spark joy and community and creativity.

I encourage everyone to take

part in this experience and enjoy all that it has to offer.

Addiction services

MPP Catherine McKenney: On March 9, OSTA, our yellow school bus company, invented a new designation for our neighbourhood, a community hazard zone, and began offering school bus service to children because their walk to school poses a risk to their security. That is a third-party institution contracted by the school board formally documenting that my neighbourhood has reached a crisis point.

I live there, Speaker. My neighbours and I know what brought us here.

Somerset West Community Health Centre was forced to close its consumption and treatment site in March 2025 by this government. And when its promised HART hub finally opened that September, there was no 24/7 health care, no harm reduction, no new housing, no real increase in treatment services, not the wraparound services that were promised.

When the site was closed, the impacts were immediate and visible. Drug use did not stop. Instead, it moved into the open. The need did not disappear; the risks simply increased for both people who use drugs and the surrounding neighbourhood.

Into that gap came a private, for-profit clinic that does not properly monitor their patients. What has followed is an increase in the diversion of drugs and, as I hear from my constituents daily, chaos in the community that previously did not exist. When the school bus authority has to invent a new category of social hazard for a neighbourhood, that is the consequences of this government’s choices.

We need a funded, community-integrated supervised consumption model, a fully funded treatment service and housing that is equipped to support the complex needs of people.

Hellenic Heritage Month

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos: Today Greek Canadians and Greeks around the world proudly celebrate Greek Independence Day. On March 25, 1821, the Greek people rose up in revolution and launched their valiant struggle for independence, having lived through 400 years of Ottoman occupation. It was a defining moment in history, rooted in courage, sacrifice and unwavering belief in freedom and democracy.

Their triumph was not only a victory for a nation but a powerful affirmation of the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights. From these fundamental values to the enduring legacy of the Greek language, Hellenism continues to shape our communities and to guide and inspire future generations.

Yesterday, I was honoured to host our annual Hellenic Heritage Month reception at Queen’s Park. Community leaders and legislators from all parties came together to celebrate Hellenic culture, language and heritage, and to recognize the contributions made by the Greek community in our society.

Today, as Hellenes and philhellenes all over the world mark Greek Independence Day, we celebrate the shared values and ideals that unite us all as Ontarians: freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

Zito É Ellas. Zito O Kanadas.

Long live Greece. Long live Canada.

Student assistance

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Families in Ottawa are struggling with the cost of living, unaffordable housing and expensive groceries. They want to see our kids get a good start in life, get a good education and a good job when they graduate, and be able to build a life here in Ontario. But it’s clear that the government doesn’t share that vision. They’re not investing in deeply affordable housing. They’re doing nothing to bring down the cost of groceries. They’ve cut more than $6.3 billion from our elementary and secondary schools. Youth unemployment is at record highs.

The government’s persistent underfunding of post-secondary institutions means that institutions like Algonquin College are cutting programs and closing campuses—37 programs last year and another 30 this year.

Instead of addressing these challenges, the government is raising tuition, making it harder for students to afford post-secondary education, while also cutting OSAP grants, pushing students deeper into debt.

I’ve spoken to high school students—like the students from Merivale High School who came to my office—who aren’t sure now whether they’re going to be able to go to college or university.

Students at Algonquin are telling me they’re not sure they’re going to be able to finish their program.

And parents are telling me how worried they are that their kids will never be able to afford a home, that they will have to delay starting a family, if they graduate with a huge debt load.

Instead of making life harder for young people in Ontario, the government should invest in them.

Reverse the OSAP cuts, and fund our schools from ECE through PSE.

Carrousel of the Nations

Mr. Andrew Dowie: I’m proud to rise today to highlight the government of Ontario’s support for one of the most iconic cultural attractions in Windsor–Essex. Through the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, our government is investing $30,000 in this year’s Carrousel of the Nations.

Hon. Graham McGregor: Right on!

Mr. Andrew Dowie: Right. Mr. McGregor is a frequent, frequent and honoured guest—welcome any time, by the way.

This event reflects the very best of our community’s diversity and community spirit.

Since its beginnings in 1974, Carrousel has grown into Ontario’s longest-running cultural festival and one of its most cherished traditions, recognized among Ontario’s top 100 festivals for more than a decade.

Hosted in cultural community halls and centres across Windsor–Essex, each of the cultural sites offers an authentic experience, brought to life by volunteers from the very communities whose traditions are being shared.

I want to thank the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County and all of the dedicated volunteers who make this event possible each and every year. It’s a great time.

I encourage all my colleagues to come out June 12 to 14 and June 19 to 21.

It’s this spirit of celebration that reminds us that diversity is not just our strength; it’s our story.

Birth of member’s son

Mr. Matthew Rae: It’s an honour to rise today in the Legislative Assembly to welcome an important constituent to the chamber: my son, Arthur. Arthur joined the world last fall, and it has been a wild ride ever since.

My wife and I would like to thank all the nurses at the Stratford maternity ward, Dr. Hillyer, the Stratford Midwives—in particular Siobhan and Caitlin—for all their support during a very long labour.

As with all first-time parents, there have been many, many sleepless nights. And as some of my colleagues have remarked, I have gotten more grey hair in the past few months.

I would also like to recognize and thank the many other health care professionals who have been there to support our little family, whether it has been our lactation consultant, Claire, or Huron Perth Public Health employees such as Cindy. We are truly blessed to live in a province and country where we have access to these health care supports.

Speaker, before I conclude, I would like to recognize the true superstar in our family: My wife, who puts up with my hectic schedule, is caring for Arthur, all while having a career of her own—and, Speaker, it is her birthday today, so happy birthday.

Singing of Happy Birthday.

Ms. Catherine Fife: That’s the best prop ever.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Yes, we allow some props.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): If I could have your attention, members. We have with us in the Speakers’ gallery today Louis Dimitracopoulos, who is the new executive director of administrative services at the Office of the Assembly. Louis oversees the division that provides services to MPPs and staff in the areas of business resilience, financial services, human resources, and purchasing and operations. Welcome, Louis.

Also joining us today in the Speaker’s gallery is a face—but rather a voice—that you will all recognize. For more than 40 years, Joe Bowen has brought joy to hockey fans across Ontario and beyond as the iconic voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but, colleagues, the bittersweet news is that Joe will be retiring at the end of this hockey season. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Joe as a friend, and I’ve long been a fan of his work as a broadcaster. Please join me in welcoming Joe Bowen to the Ontario Legislature.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): And following question period, I invite all of you—and in the chamber, as well—to join us in the library event space, where you have a chance to meet Joe and grab a selfie.

Mr. Adil Shamji: I’m proud to introduce a delegation on behalf of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, on the occasion of his first official visit to Canada.

I welcome Kiran Hayat, Shazin Karim-Prebtani, Lotf Jan Ali, Zahir Velji, Nishita Adtani-Patel, Lailah Hajiyanee, Karim Karim, Selin Jessani, Mehreen Rahim, Masooda Rahmani, Fayaz Noormohamed, Nurrudin Ladha, Mohamed Dhanani, and Sholina Rhemtulla. Thank you, and welcome to the House.

MPP Mohamed Firin: I also would like to introduce some guests who are also here as part of a delegation for the Honourable Aga Khan: Nimira Dhalwani, Khalfan Khalfan, Fiaz Basaria, Amin Panjwani, Jawid Darvesh, Tasleemah Jessani-Ladak, Nadia Surani, Raj Makani, Lala Borornieva, Shahinoor Pirani, Sheniffa Velji, Aminmohamed Ladak, Zahra Mehri, SherAli Amiree, and Naseer Afghan.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: I’m also proud to rise in this House to recognize some members from the delegation here on behalf of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan. They are Zak Rhemtulla, Aly Shamsy, Arif Ismail, Khursandi Azizsho, Zahra Dhanani, Sara Bawany, Ilyana Jiwa, Aaniqa Hemnani, Sadru Jetha, Abdul Madhani, Hussein Sunderji, Ghazanfar Sukkurwala, Shaifa Kanji, Tanisha Panjwani and Sikin Kherani.

And a very special welcome to Cindy Manohararaj, who’s the chaplain of Queen’s Park.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: I rise today to introduce page captain Robbie Robinson, who is here from the riding of Nipissing. He’s joined by his mother, Kirsty, and his grandmother, Irene, who’s a great lady.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: I’d like to join in welcoming educators from AEFO, ETFO, OECTA, OSSTF and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation this morning—along with Parents of Black Children, and in particular Charline Grant; Florence Gyimah and her children; and Shannon Liverpool. Welcome to your House.

Hon. Sam Oosterhoff: I have over 50 constituents who are going to be joining us today in the galleries at some point during question period, the Niagara Reformed seniors’ group. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I can’t introduce them all—too many names—but I have to mention Uncle Jake and Aunt Winnie, who are going to be there as well.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: I want to welcome two of my staff members who are here for the first time: Nicole Fitzpatrick and Tanjot Gill. Welcome to the House.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: I’d like to introduce an amazing public school student in beautiful Beaches East–York. She’s so keen on politics she’s shadowing me today. Cleopatra Tryssenaar, welcome to your House.

MPP Alexa Gilmour: I’d like to introduce a dear friend of mine and colleague in the United Church of Canada, Carolyn Smith. Welcome to your House.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: I want to welcome Martha Hradowy from OSSTF and Heather Latam from ETFO. Welcome Queen’s Park.

MPP Monica Ciriello: I want to take the opportunity to introduce a legal colleague, John Wu, who is doing incredible work here in Hamilton Mountain. Welcome to your House.

MPP Jamie West: I have a couple of introductions. I want to first introduce my friend Liana Holm, president of Rainbow ETFO local and on the ETFO provincial executive. As well, CUPE Local 416—they’re the outside workers for the city of Toronto, and their paramedics and firefighters are here with us today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Don Valley East on a point of order.

Mr. Adil Shamji: I seek the unanimous consent of the House to move private member’s notice of motion number 65 without notice, requiring the Ontario government to reimburse all publicly insured Ontario patients for any private fees they have paid to obtain medically necessary services delivered by nurse practitioners, if nurse practitioners have not already been publicly funded by the federally mandated deadline of April 1, 2026.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Don Valley East is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to move private member’s notice of motion number 65 without notice, requiring the Ontario government to reimburse all publicly insured Ontario patients for any private fees they have paid to obtain medically necessary services delivered by nurse practitioners, if nurse practitioners have not already been publicly funded by the federally mandated deadline of April 1, 2026. Agreed? No.

Member’s birthday

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Associate Minister of Forestry on a point of order.

Hon. Kevin Holland: I’d like to take the opportunity to wish our great member from Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston a very happy birthday.

Singing of Happy Birthday.

Question Period

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Last week, the government decided to change the law to hide the Premier’s cellphone records. The Premier has since then attacked the privacy watchdog whose job it is to maintain transparency and accountability of this government. He has attacked journalists who, I will point out, have no other option but freedom of information, because this is just the least transparent government we’ve seen in Ontario’s history.

The Premier proudly claimed that nobody cares about that, but I’ve got to tell you, the research is showing pretty clearly that the majority of Ontarians do very deeply care about this issue.

Speaker, it is not too late. The people have spoken. I would ask the Premier, will he commit today to scrapping these outrageous changes and handing his phone records over to the court, as the courts have ordered him to do?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.

Hon. Stephen Crawford: We’re introducing legislation this week that is going to modernize Ontario’s FOI and cyber security rules that have been outdated—40 years old. There are probably very few people actually even in this House that were born at that time, when this legislation was actually written. That legislation was written—

Interjection.

Hon. Stephen Crawford: Well, there’s a few of us, yes. But that legislation was written before smartphones, before cloud computing, before artificial intelligence. The effects of this legislation no longer are valid today.

What we’re doing is codifying existing jurisdictional prudence which has been seen throughout Canada and other jurisdictions, whether it’s cabinet confidentiality or privacy. We’re updating a system that is old. It’s going to increase the public’s access to information through the public sector: 95% of information that you are able to see today, you will still be able to see. The only information that will still be confidential, which should be under the cabinet confidentiality rules that have been set in the rest of the country, is discussions amongst cabinet members themselves.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, have you noticed that the Premier always pretends it’s all about law and order until it’s all about him? Until law and order applies to him and then suddenly—yes.

Speaker, these are the Premier’s own supporters who oppose these changes—voters who elected him because he sold himself like he was some kind of straight shooter, didn’t he? He was going to tell it like it is. And now he’s hiding government records on his personal phone and changing the law to protect himself. This is the opposite of what the people of Ontario called for from this government.

It is very clear that the government gravy train has been completely derailed as they try to cover up this mess. So I would like the Premier to answer us: What more evidence does the Premier need to understand that people don’t like government cover-ups?

Hon. Stephen Crawford: Speaking of the gravy train derailed, that’s exactly what happened in 2018. When we were elected with a majority government, the first thing we noticed when we came into government was the books that were cooked by the previous Liberal government—hiding a $15-billion deficit.

That’s what the people of Ontario care about, Speaker. The people of Ontario care about good fiscal management, about affordability, about having a job, and we’re very focused on that.

The Premier of Ontario has his number out there. You can call him with a problem. I certainly get texts and calls from him, dealing with constituents at 11 o’clock at night. This is the most accessible government in the history of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: I would point out to the member opposite that we wouldn’t have learned about all what the Liberals were up to without freedom-of-information laws. Are you kidding me?

And I have to say, is it really worth it to the member opposite to get up here and defend the Premier’s personal text messages? Have we learned nothing from Hillary? My goodness.

People don’t like it when their government covers things up; they don’t like it when they hide secrets away. It is not what you were elected to do. It is not what you were elected to do.

I want to be very clear: Nobody is asking for the Premier’s family text messages. I couldn’t care less what he is up to in his personal life. We are not asking for his TikTok log-in. We’re not asking for his Wordle scores. We are asking for information about what government business he is conducting on his personal devices, and the courts have ordered him to release that.

Will the Premier do the right thing and stop hiding his personal devices from the people of Ontario?

Hon. Stephen Crawford: Yes, I can assure the member opposite that the Premier is not on TikTok. We, on this side of the House, follow the rules of cyber security in this province, in this country. Where are you? Are you on TikTok? Are you giving information to foreign sources?

Actually, speaking of that, Speaker, this government is committed to cyber security. That’s a major part of this legislation. We have over one trillion incidents of cyber attack on this province every single year. That’s 30,000 a second. What we are doing is ensuring that cyber security—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Don Valley North will come to order.

Hon. Stephen Crawford: Part of this legislation is ensuring the cyber security protections we have provincially—which it sounds like the members opposite don’t adhere to—are broadened to the broader public sector so that hospitals keep their data safe, so that schools keep their data safe, so that provincial associations keep their data safe. We’re focused on cyber security on this side of the House, protecting the information—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I will remind the members to come to order, or they will be warned and they will be named.

Leader of the Opposition.

Minister’s letter / Anti-racism activities

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, my question is to the Premier. Yesterday, teachers and education workers all across Ontario received a pretty insulting letter from the Minister of Education, trying to control graduation ceremonies. By the way, graduation ceremonies are those celebrations of our students, their achievements and what they’ve achieved with the help of our teachers and education workers—I would point out against all odds, because under this government they have seen cuts and underfunding for years. Now it sounds like the minister is telling young people to stay silent.

Let me ask the Premier this: If a high school student giving a speech at graduation, as, say, their class’s valedictorian, talks about how they can no longer attend college or university because of this government’s OSAP cuts, would that be considered too divisive or contentious for a graduation ceremony, or are they allowed to only praise your government?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Education.

Hon. Paul Calandra: It’s interesting that she didn’t like the letter, but she quoted from the letter quite extensively. I made it very clear in that letter that I don’t want teachers put in the middle of disagreements between students and school boards. There was a memo that went out from the Hamilton district school board to teachers. A faceless superintendent in that board decided that graduation ceremonies shouldn’t focus on student achievement—student achievement, by the way, which comes about because of the hard work of teachers.

A graduation ceremony is about the students’ success, but it’s also a way for parents to recognize what teachers have done to build on that success. So this superintendent in Hamilton decided, “Let’s make it divisive. Let’s turn it away from success of students and put that responsibility on the shoulders of the teachers organizing.” Well, you know what that superintendent should do? Go to every single one of these graduation ceremonies so that when parents are upset by the divisive nature of it, when parents are upset that the focus is not on students, let them take the heat from the students, not the teacher. We should focus on the success of students and what they have accomplished.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: I will point out, first of all, to the minister the hard work of our teachers, yes, but with no thanks to this government, because they have treated our education workers just dismally.

We have a government that is changing the laws to hide everything from the people of Ontario, and now you are trying to muzzle students. The minister cannot force teachers and students to agree with him. That is not how democracy works.

Our classrooms don’t need political interference from this minister. They need education assistants. They need windows that aren’t broken and hallways that aren’t flooded. That’s what they need. They need smaller class sizes. Let’s start there. Why is this Premier policing what students and teachers can say instead of focusing on fixing Ontario’s struggling education system?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Education.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Madam Speaker, there is a very clear indication of the difference between the New Democrats and the Liberals, and the Progressive Conservatives. When it comes to education, the focus needs to be on students, parents and teachers—full stop.

Now, 85% of an education budget goes for the salaries of educators. You know why that is? Because educators are the backbone of the education system. Without educators, none of us would be here. That is what the system focuses on. It should not be about putting teachers against parents. The opposition are suggesting that when that 5% of teachers, like any profession, aren’t good, aren’t focused on bringing student achievement up, we should protect them. No. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting that when two teachers went on a racist rant in Toronto, I should not fire them? Well, I disagree, and that’s why I fired them.

When a superintendent, a high-ranking board official, went on a rant on TikTok and said that President Trump should be assassinated, you know what happened? That superintendent got fired. That—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member of Ottawa West–Nepean.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Speaker, let’s talk about what teachers and parents want to hear from this minister on racism, because this morning, Parents of Black Children is here with a request for the Premier. A year after the Human Rights Commission confirmed that there is systemic racism in our schools and offered a road map with 29 recommendations, nothing has happened. This government has been completely silent while Black students continue to suffer discrimination in our schools.

Parents and teachers want to hear a firm commitment that the government will implement the recommendations along with a clear timeline. Will the Premier make that commitment to them this morning? Yes or no?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Look, I tend to agree that, under the current governance structure across the province of Ontario, a governance structure where trustees have been in charge of a system where we have seen failings across the province of Ontario—that has led to challenges. I know the former minister moved very quickly in the Peel situation to put a supervisor in place. Very soon, we will be bringing governance reforms to this House which I think will, in part, deal with this.

As you know, Bill 33 allows the minister to step in much quicker. It’s a bill that they did not support. So in instances where we are seeing challenges in the system that aren’t being addressed by school boards, we will step in and we will make it right. That is part of Bill 33, and significant reforms are coming very soon, which will allow us to continue these reforms, which will allow us to address very serious situations like this.

I completely agree. Trustees have failed us. Boards have failed us, but change is coming.

Ontario budget

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Tomorrow we’ll hear from the half-trillion-dollar man, aka the finance minister, on what vanity projects and gimmicks the deflated Doug Ford Conservative government will put in this year’s budget. From what we’ve heard, we’ll see the work of the Premier of Toronto, who wants his own airport and a shiny new convention centre, instead of doing his job as the Premier of Ontario and helping people who are out of work, out of a home and feeling so out of luck.

People know that after eight years of this Conservative government, life is harder here in Ontario. My question to the finance minister: Will this budget put an end to the shiny new toys for the Premier and actually make life better for people here in Ontario?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Peterborough–Kawartha.

Mr. Dave Smith: It’s interesting hearing the third party talk about this the way that they’re talking about it.

When you take a look at the fiscal management that this Premier and this Minister of Finance have done—let’s take a look at the history of it. There was a time when Ontario’s debt-to-GDP ratio was above 41%, and the Liberal government at the time said that if it got above 40%, that would cause problems for us. In their term as government, we saw a decrease in Ontario’s credit rating.

But what have we seen since 2018? We’ve seen that debt-to-GDP ratio drop. We are now at 36%. That is because we’ve improved the economy. We have done things to make the economy stronger, and we’ve never raised a single tax while doing that.

On top of that, DBRS and Standard and Poor’s have given a credit rating increase to Ontario. And I’ll have more to say in my supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Don Valley West.

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Speaker, after eight years of this Conservative government, life is harder here in Ontario, especially for the record number of people out of work under this government.

The government’s response? Spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on delusional self-promoting ads. They are bombarding us with them: during a Super Bowl, the World Series, on billboards, online and in full-page newspaper ads.

Here’s how the next one should go: “Soon, Ontario taxpayers will pay for a brand new convention centre in Toronto—but Ontario residents will have no new homes, worse hallway health care and bad learning outcomes for our kids. That’s how this government neglects Ontario.”

Back to the finance minister: Will he please tell us when he’ll stop wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on ads and actually start making life better for people in Ontario?

Mr. Dave Smith: June 4, 2018, is when it started to make life better for the people of Ontario. Our economy was at $717 billion for our GDP in 2018. This year, it exceeded $1 trillion.

You do not have the money that you need to spend on social infrastructure if you do not have a strong economy. That’s why we’ve spent the last eight years building that economy back up. We’ve seen the growth in the GDP. We’ve seen the growth in employment. More than a million people today are employed in Ontario than what there was at the end of 2017, at the end of the disastrous rule of the Liberals.

This government has been doing things to increase the number of employment opportunities, to support workers, to support people all throughout this province, and we’re seeing the results of it, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Don Valley West.

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Speaker, we know about the reckless spending habits of this deficient Doug Ford Conservative government. No fiscally responsible minister would spend over 100 million taxpayer dollars on self-promoting ads. No fiscally responsible minister would let hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars go to Skills Development Fund applicants who got a failing grade. No fiscally responsible minister would give out $340 million in blank cheques to parents and call that “education spending” while cutting the number of adults in the classroom and failing our students. But this minister, this finance minister, has done all of this.

Back to the finance minister: When will he wise up, step up and deliver a budget that makes life better for the people of Ontario?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Minister of Economic Development.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Speaker, those ads, which incidentally run all around the world, have had success:

—Massilly, from France, $85-million investment in Ontario;

—Sandvik, from Sweden, $85-million investment in Sudbury;

—Element5, from Austria, $107-million investment, 150 jobs in St. Thomas;

—Ferrero, out of Italy, $445 million, 500 jobs;

—Marvell, out of the US, $238 million, 350 jobs.

Speaker, our trade with the European Union is up 38% since we were elected; India, up 88%; South Korea, up 94%—they see these ads at every airport, in every magazine—Switzerland, up 132%; United Kingdom, up 194%; Brazil, up 241%; Vietnam, up 288%.

People around the world understand that when you want to build something in the world, you build it here in Ontario.

Education issues

Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the Minister of Education. After eight long years, this minister and this Premier and this Conservative government continue to make life harder for Ontario families. Our schools are not safe places to learn or to work. Class sizes are too big, special education has been starved and there is a mental health crisis in our schools that’s not being addressed. Speaker, Ontarians don’t want much; all they need is for their kids’ schools to be safe places to learn and to work. And they’re not.

Speaker, my question to the minister is, why are you making it harder for young families with kids in Ontario schools?

Hon. Paul Calandra: I’ll remind the member opposite that, under a Progressive Conservative government, we are seeing the highest graduation rates in the history of the province. We are seeing reading and writing scores on the increase across the province—at their highest level ever. We are seeing increases in math scores. Since that government left office, we’re seeing them increase. But you know what? It’s not good enough for us. That is why we are doubling down to make sure that we can improve our math scores for our students.

Now, under the previous Liberal government, what did they do? They starved teachers, right? They starved teachers for all of their pet projects.

Under our government, you know what we’re doing? We’re putting $750 back, giving it directly to teachers. Do you know why? So that they can fund their classrooms, so that they don’t have to go to parents like they did under the Liberals and say, “Can you help us? We need to go to Dollarama. We need to go to the dollar store to buy supplies for our classroom.”

Do you know what we’re doing? We’re giving money directly to teachers so that they can outfit their classrooms. That is good news for teachers, it’s good news for students, great news for parents and it’s all about putting students—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: Speaker, I have a four-letter word for the minister: EQAO. It’s all on you. Eight years—look at those results.

Let me tell you a story about Marigold. Marigold is six years old. She lives in my riding. She’s a young girl with exceptional needs. She’s a bright young girl. She got into grade 1 with an assessment that identified her exceptional needs. Two years later, nothing—nada, not a thing. Two years—no support, Minister. And Marigold is not the only child in this province that this is happening to. There are thousands and thousands of others.

My question to the minister is, life is hard already for Marigold. Why are you making it harder for her?

Hon. Paul Calandra: You started off this question by talking about the EQAO. I would remind the member that again, under this government, we have the highest graduation rates in the history of the province of Ontario. Under this government and under the reforms started by my predecessors, we have the highest scores in reading and writing that we have ever had in the province of Ontario. Under this Progressive Conservative government, we are seeing math scores finally increase. Because you all remember, right? You remember, under Liberals, you discovered math; under Progressive Conservatives, you learn math. That is the difference.

But it simply isn’t good enough. It’s simply not good enough for us, Madam Speaker. That is why we’re putting more supports and resources into the classrooms so that our students can do even better. That’s why we’re directly supporting teachers: because we know that the system works better when you actually listen to the people who deliver that service.

I said in one of the earlier questions, teachers are the backbone of the education system, and the people I’m listening to are teachers, not an opposition that failed—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: This government has starved special education, and that’s why there are stories like Marigold’s.

Both of Marigold’s parents work. They can’t take time off work. And they couldn’t afford the help that Marigold needed. It would’ve put a big hole in their family budget. But their aunt helped them out. She actually drives Marigold to her appointments every week, because they can’t take time off work, Minister. They can’t take time off work and they can’t afford it. They’re lucky they’ve got an aunt. There are thousands of kids who don’t have an aunt or someone who’s going to do that. It shouldn’t be this way.

Speaker, it’s really, really hard for Marigold and her parents and thousands of other families like that. Why is this minister making their life even harder?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, just the opposite, Madam Speaker—I’ve said this on a number of occasions. I don’t think parents care when the minister gets up here and says, “Oh, we have the highest level of funding in the history of the province.” I don’t think parents care. I don’t think they care when the Leader of the Opposition talks about funding cuts that they know aren’t actually in the system.

Do you know what they care about? It’s “When my child goes to school, does the teacher have the resources they need to deliver the best possible outcome?” And that is what we are focused on: making sure that our students, parents and teachers have the resources that they need to give us the best-quality students.

That is why in Ottawa, in the member’s own community, we stepped in to take over a board—he did not support it—where parents were flooding the Ministry of Education because the trustees were not listening to them. They were taking money out of the classroom and putting it into pet projects.

What we’re doing is we’re refocusing the system to put students first, and the way you put students first is by listening to teachers because they are the ones who deliver for students and parents. I’ll continue to do that regardless of what the opposition says. I’m going to focus on teachers, the backbone of the education system.

Laboratory services

MPP Jamie West: Speaker, let me tell you about LifeLabs. LifeLabs was sold to an American company, and now they’re going to close the Sudbury laboratory testing facility. Under the Premier’s watch, that means that another 40 northern Ontario workers will lose their jobs. That means, under the Premier’s watch, even fewer opportunities in northern Ontario for our lab tech students. Most importantly, because the samples are going to be shipped down to southern Ontario, they may be delayed or lost, and northern patients will face greater uncertainty.

So my question, Speaker, is, the Premier loves to say, “Protect Ontario;” why isn’t he protecting northern Ontario from American companies?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: First and foremost, I think the member should check his numbers. In fact, there are not 40 layoffs in northern Ontario. He would know that if he’d had those conversations.

The important piece to remember here is that we have organizations that have signed binding contracts with the Ministry of Health to ensure and provide services. In fact, we’ve actually increased the number of collection points in northern Ontario so people don’t have to travel as far to get those critical diagnostic tests done. We will monitor and ensure that they continue to maintain and follow the contract as signed, but the assurance today is that there is no impact to the individuals who live in northern Ontario and, specifically, Sudbury.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Nickel Belt.

M me France Gélinas: Speaker, Quest Diagnostics, the American for-profit company that bought LifeLabs, is closing their testing facilities in Sudbury and laying off their staff. This is not acceptable. For us in the north, it means that the quality of samples will be compromised. The test results will be delayed. We’ll become more vulnerable during emergencies. We’ll lose a training facility for our MLTs—and the list goes on.

Rather than paying an American company to collect, transport to Toronto and test northern samples, why doesn’t the minister pay northern hospitals to do the exact same work, just better, faster and cheaper?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Again, to reinforce: Urgent lab testing remains in our local hospitals across Ontario—and, of course, in northern Ontario—and remains unchanged. As I mentioned, we actually have six increased opportunities for people to go so that they don’t have to travel as far. We have a contract, and we will ensure that the terms of that contract are followed and that there is no impact that is patient-focused in this situation.

Again, I would ask the member, when they raise these issues, to actually look at the facts and make sure that the numbers they are throwing out—in, I understand, a chamber that they can call without impunity—that they actually get the numbers right.

Minister’s letter

Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the Minister of Education. Like many of us here, I was at the education breakfast this morning and heard the Minister of Education speak to teachers. I was gobsmacked; I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never heard anything quite like it, but I shouldn’t be surprised because if I’d read the letter, which I did earlier, I would have known why. It was the same tone. It was imperious, condescending and out of touch with the people, the adults, who are responsible for our kids every day. Why would you send a letter like this to every teacher when, admittedly, you say it’s a very—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Prop?

Mr. John Fraser: Thank you. The letter is right here, folks. This letter—why would you send it? Why would you send it to every teacher when you say it’s a small problem? You’re trying to make a problem bigger than it actually is, and you’re trying to vilify somebody in doing that.

Will the minister apologize for the condescending, imperious tone he took with teachers this morning and what he put in the letter?

Hon. Paul Calandra: I encourage the member to do two things. First, table the letter, and, after question period, I’ll ask for unanimous consent for him to read the letter, and then we’ll see what the tone was in that letter. I will simply not apologize for what is in that letter.

As I said earlier when I was speaking with teachers—you know what? We have a situation where, in Toronto, two teachers went on a racist rant on Instagram. The Liberals and the NDP would like to see those teachers in the classroom. I fired them.

In the northern Ontario board, a high-ranking school board official went on TikTok because that official thought it was important to tell everybody that the President of the United States should be assassinated. You know what? That person is fired because they don’t belong in an education system.

The backbone of our education system is teachers; 95% of our teachers are hard-working, but we’re going to weed out those 5% that have a different agenda than supporting our parents and supporting our students.

I won’t be swayed by the opposition. We’re going to deliver a system that works for parents, a system that works for teachers, and we’re going to give our students every opportunity to succeed.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: When you send a letter to everybody in an organization when you have a small problem, it’s because you’re trying to make it a bigger problem and you’re trying to deflect from the real problems, which are class sizes that are too big, special education that’s being starved and a mental health crisis in our schools.

If the minister loves the letter so much, I am going to read him a bit of this letter. What it says is, “Those in positions of authority must be held to a higher standard, consistent with their responsibilities.” Minister, consistent with your responsibilities, will you make class sizes smaller? Will you stop starving special education? And will you address the mental health crisis in our schools?

Hon. Paul Calandra: What we have done since we’ve come to office is ensure that students, parents and teachers are put first in the system. Under the Liberals it was a war zone in our schools. What we’re doing is depoliticizing it so students can focus on one thing: learning. What teachers have told me is they don’t want to be parents; they want to be educators. We’re going to deliver a system that allows them to do that.

The member opposite is supporting a graduation ceremony in Hamilton and a superintendent who has decided that we shouldn’t focus on students, that it shouldn’t be focused on student achievement; it should be focused on colonization. Well, you know what? Students work hard. By that point, education for them in that year is done, and what we should focus on is students. We should focus on our parents and teachers. And do you know what? We should always be proud to be Canadian. We should always be proud of the achievements that we’ve accomplished. I will step in every single time someone goes off of that message.

Public transit

MPP Mohamed Firin: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. For years, commuters across Ontario were stuck in gridlock while previous Liberal governments made promises it failed to deliver. But when our government came to office, we came with a real plan to finally build transit that our province needs.

That plan includes the Ontario Line, a new rapid transit connection throughout the heart of one of the fastest-growing regions in North America that will create jobs and drive economic growth for communities across this province.

Today we’re seeing the plan is becoming a reality, with the construction under way and real progress being made every single day. Can the minister update this House on how our government is delivering the Ontario Line and cutting commute times across the greater Toronto area?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Brampton East.

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: Thank you to the great member from York South–Weston for bringing such an important point to this House. For the last 15 years, the previous Liberal government promised transit but delivered delays. Our government came forward with a real plan to get shovels in the ground and build the transit Ontario needs. Construction is advancing on the entire Ontario Line corridor. Our crews are at work at every single station site, and progress is being made every single day.

The Ontario Line is a 15.6-kilometre project with 15 new stations, connecting riders to GO Transit at East Harbour on the Lakeshore East and Stouffville corridors, TTC line 1 at Osgoode and Queen, TTC line 2 at Pape; and the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Don Valley, while supporting 4,700 good-paying jobs. While the opposition members voted against, we’re building and delivering faster and more reliable transit, and getting people moving in our region.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for York South–Weston.

MPP Mohamed Firin: I’d like to thank the wonderful parliamentary assistant for that important update.

What our government is delivering with the Ontario Line is remarkable by any measure. Workers are tunnelling beneath one of the densest urban cores in North America, building stations with world-class complexity, and doing it with the engineering and expertise that Ontario is known for.

But this is also about more than one project; it’s about generational commitment to building the transit infrastructure our province needs to grow and compete.

Can the parliamentary assistant tell this House how the Ontario Line fits with our government’s broader vision for transit, and what it means for the future of Ontario?

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: The member is absolutely right; what our workers and engineers are doing right now is truly remarkable. They’re tunnelling beneath one of the busiest urban cores in North America, building 15 complex stations and delivering a brand new rapid transit line through the heart of our region. The Ontario Line is a key part of our government’s historic $70-billion investment in public transit, the largest expansion in Canadian history.

Projects like the Ontario Line, the Scarborough subway extension, the Yonge North subway extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West extension will expand capacity, reduce congestion and connect more people to jobs. The Ontario Line alone is expected to serve 390,000 riders every day while taking 28,000 cars from our roads.

While the NDP and the Liberals vote no, our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford and the support of this great PC team, are going continue building for the people of Ontario, ensuring we have transit ridership and quality transit for generations to come.

Student assistance

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Premier.

Speaker, Julia is a first-year med student. She is president of her class and active with the Ontario Medical Students Association. Medical school tuition is about $25,000 a year. Medical training costs well over $100,000. Julia is worried that the cuts to OSAP grants will make it financially impossible for qualified students from diverse backgrounds to become physicians.

Why is the Premier making it harder for qualified students to access medical training?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Minister of Colleges and Universities.

Hon. Nolan Quinn: I’m sure that member knows about Ontario Learn and Stay Grant and our new Ontario Learn and Stay Grant that’s going to be for family physicians. We’re going to cover 100% of tuition, books and other costs that are associated with that.

Do you know what? That party loves to cherry-pick facts and only present half of the facts to the general public. The cherry blossoms haven’t even bloomed yet, but they’re all about cherry-picking the facts. Please give all of the information to the students. There is a significant amount of information you’re not sharing with the students. We have a significant amount of grants; the universities have $1.8 billion of grants every year that they give out every year as well.

We will continue to be there with our Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, our PSW Learn and Earn Program as well as our new Ontario Learn and Stay Grant that will coming online this fall for family physicians, bringing 400 every cohort.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for London West.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I would encourage the minister to listen to the Ontario Medical Students Association about the kind of support that medical students need.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association estimates that Ontario will be short more than 30,000 nurses by the end of the decade. OSAP cuts are going to make things worse. Ontario desperately needs more nurses from diverse backgrounds, and students should not have to take on a lifetime of debt in order to go into nursing.

Will this government reverse its damaging cuts to OSAP grants so that Ontario can graduate the nurses we urgently need?

Hon. Nolan Quinn: I guess she didn’t hear me, because she’s speaking about the nursing shortages, and I guess she didn’t hear about the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant that we’ve invested over $170 million into, helping 13,000 students come online in nursing and high-priority programs.

But if she wants to speak about OSAP, let’s speak about OSAP. The Auditor General in 2017 said the desperate moves by the Liberal government were unsustainable, and they are unsustainable. The Premier and I have been very clear about that they are unsustainable. But OSAP is not going away. We have ensured that OSAP has sustainability and stability, not just for these students but for the next generation of students behind them.

We’ll always be there for our students, but they need to make the investments into themselves and into their future careers, and it will pay tenfold with their future earnings.

Government accountability

Ms. Lee Fairclough: Before I get into my question, I just need to echo the comments of my colleagues about the appalling remarks by the Minister of Education this morning towards teachers. The tone was much more like the emperor of education. They deserve more respect.

Speaker, on the eve of the budget, though, the government is trying to fix something that isn’t broken. Freedom of information exists so that taxpayers know how their money is being spent. After eight long years of this Conservative government, life is harder and taxpayers deserve to know why. Instead, the government is set on hiding the truth. Speaker, this is dead wrong, and everyone knows it.

There are 700,000 people without a job, and many more are worried. One million people rely on food banks, and kids are going to school hungry. To the Premier: Why is this government more focused on hiding their track record than fixing it?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The minister of business and public service delivery.

Hon. Stephen Crawford: We are a government that’s committed to fixing the problems that we inherited. In fact, this Minister of Education is the first one that’s stood up for students, stood up for teachers and stood up for parents—since she brought it up—so let’s give him a round of applause, please.

Interjections.

Hon. Stephen Crawford: On that note, Speaker, I do want to talk about what we are doing with the legislative changes because it does pertain to children’s safety. In fact, I have four kids; I have two that are in high school. There are many people in this House that have kids in high school or public school, and they don’t know how these third party software providers are accessing children’s data.

With the legislation that we’re proposing today, you are going to have notification to parents. We are working in the best interests of the parents of Ontario. Whether it’s the Minister of Education, whether it’s the Premier or whether it’s our caucus colleagues, we’re working together to protect the children of Ontario.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Folks—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order. Order.

I recognize the member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

Ms. Lee Fairclough: Polling shows that Ontarians reject the Premier’s freedom-of-information changes; 73% reject doing it retroactively.

Hon. Graham McGregor: What else do the polls say?

Ms. Lee Fairclough: I know you care about the polls a lot, actually.

Transparency and accountability are not optional for a government; they’re fundamental. These changes will bury information about how decisions are made at the very top. This is not the government’s money; it’s the people’s, paid for by their hard work and sweat. That money should be going to creating good jobs. It should be going to health care. It should be going to education. We know it’s not.

Speaker, to the Premier: With life getting harder, why is this government more focused on keeping its record secret than fixing it?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the minister of economic development.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Let’s talk a little bit about our record. In your very own riding, Kinectrics invested $22 million and hired 15 people. Oakhill Distribution invested almost $6 million and hired 20 people. All across we can find—Andriani in London, $55 million, hired 42 people; Jungbunzlauer, a $200-million investment, hired 50 people; in MPP Gates’s riding, Siltech, a $100-million investment, 51 people; Heddle Shipyards, $107 million, 30 people.

These companies continue to expand in Ontario because they know exactly what they’re going to get: dependability, reliability, predictability. That’s why, all around the world, we’ve seen such huge increases in economic development and in companies coming here to Ontario. They know what they’re going to get and they trust it.

Energy policies

Mr. Brian Saunderson: My question is for the Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries. Speaker, we all know that the protectionist measures of Donald Trump have created uncertainty and disruptions to the global economy, which is directly affecting the cost of living for the people and industries in my riding of Simcoe–Grey and across our great province. At the same time, our population is growing rapidly, and, with that, we are seeing a significant increase in energy demand.

The industries and workers of Ontario need assurance that we have their backs and that we will protect their jobs and livelihoods today and for generations to come.

Through you, Speaker, can the associate minister tell this House how our government is ensuring that our energy-intensive industries remain supported?

Hon. Sam Oosterhoff: I want to thank the excellent member for Simcoe–Grey for his advocacy and his work on behalf of industry in his riding. I know, when we had the opportunity to go through Pilkington glass in your community, we heard about how crucial having reliable, affordable and secure ener