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December 5, 2022

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2022-Dec-05 vol. A (PDF)

L038A - Mon 5 Dec 2022 / Lun 5 déc 2022

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 5 December 2022 Lundi 5 décembre 2022

Orders of the Day

Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 / Loi de 2022 sur la progression du plan pour bâtir (mesures budgétaires)

Members’ Statements

Skills training

Road safety

WindReach Farm

Municipal planning

Driver examination centres

Indigenous affairs

Food drives

Mental health and addiction services

Events in Etobicoke–Lakeshore

Darcy McKeough

Introduction of Visitors

Question Period

Health care

Land use planning

Government accountability

Skilled trades

Emergency preparedness

Entrepreneuriat francophone

Health care workers

Land use planning

Environmental protection

Public transit

Homelessness

Municipal government

Mining industry

Government contract

Small business

Deferred Votes

Protecting Agricultural Land Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 sur la protection des terres agricoles

Legislative Assembly Amendment Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 modifiant la

Loi sur l’Assemblée législative

Visitor

Estimates

Petitions

Land use planning

Long-term care

Social assistance

Land use planning

Orders of the Day

Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 / Loi de 2022 sur la progression du plan pour bâtir (mesures budgétaires)

Annual report, Chief Electoral Officer

Visitors

Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 / Loi de 2022 sur la progression du plan pour bâtir (mesures budgétaires)

Report, Chief Electoral Officer

Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 / Loi de 2022 sur la progression du plan pour bâtir (mesures budgétaires)

Estimates

Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 / Loi de 2022 sur la progression du plan pour bâtir (mesures budgétaires)

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next we’ll have a moment of silence for inner thought and personal reflection.

I want to acknowledge that we are meeting on lands traditionally inhabited by Indigenous peoples. We pay our respects to the many Indigenous nations who gathered here, and continue to gather here, including the Mississaugas of the Credit. Meegwetch.

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

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

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

Orders of the Day

Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 / Loi de 2022 sur la progression du plan pour bâtir (mesures budgétaires)

Mr. Bethlenfalvy moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 36,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes / Projet de loi 36, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I look to the Minister of Finance to lead off the debate.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Mr. Speaker, today it gives me great pleasure to rise and speak to the third reading of the Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022. I will be splitting my time with my two terrific parliamentary assistants, the member for Oakville—where is he; he was right there—as well as the member for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

On November 14, I introduced the 2022 Ontario economic outlook and fiscal review, and tabled our first-ever building Ontario progress report. This document and the fall bill highlight how our flexible and responsible plan is positioning Ontario to be ready to manage uncertainty and risk as the world faces emerging economic challenges. It is my honour to continue to discuss the highlights and showcase how we have progressed on our plan to build and to spotlight the new targeted measures in the fall bill that further advance our plan in our fall economic statement. I’m pleased to say we have made significant progress on our plan to build.

Je suis heureux de dire que notre plan pour bâtir progresse fort bien.

Mr. Speaker, the proposed legislative changes and amendments are part of our government’s plan to build Ontario. Our government is focused on getting things done. Our building Ontario progress report shows how we are making progress in attracting investments and creating good jobs. We have helped attract $16 billion in transformative auto investments in electric vehicles and EV battery-manufacturing plants in Ontario over just the last two years. We have invested $2.5 billion to help make Ontario a world-leading producer of, wait for it, low-carbon steel.

Our government is making progress in building Ontario’s workforce by training and educating students and workers to succeed not only today but for tomorrow. We have added over 11,700 health care workers, including nurses and personal support workers, to our health care system.

We are building infrastructure by getting more shovels in the ground on critical projects right across the province. Because of the previous government’s legacy of underinvestment, Madam Speaker, we have had to make up for years of lack of investment. Today, Ontario needs many things. It needs highways. It needs transit. It needs hospitals. It needs more schools. We are building to ensure the province is a leader in Canada and globally.

Aujourd’hui, l’Ontario a besoin de beaucoup de choses. Il a besoin de routes et de plus de transports en commun. Il a besoin d’hôpitaux et de plus d’écoles. Nous bâtissons et travaillons à faire de cette province un chef de file au Canada et à l’échelle mondiale.

We are building more long-term-care homes and more schools and subways and highways, and I’m proud to report that today preliminary fieldwork is under way for Highway 413 and early construction has started for the Bradford Bypass, which will serve the rapidly growing communities of Simcoe county and York region and help ease traffic in the greater Ontario area.

Madam Speaker, every person and family in Ontario, no matter where they live, is benefiting from the measures our government has implemented to keep costs down. We eliminated licence plate renewal fees as well as licence plate stickers, and we refunded the past two years of fees for eligible vehicles, helping to make life more affordable for nearly eight million vehicle owners in Ontario.

We temporarily cut the gas tax and the fuel tax, starting on July 1, 2022, to further contribute to everyday household savings across Ontario.

The Ontario Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses tax credit is supporting eligible families with their child care expenses.

Madam Speaker, our government knows we need to address the current labour shortages seen in Ontario. That is why we are focused on supporting job creation and economic growth. Everyone who is able and wants to pursue a job should be able to reach their goal.

Our government recognizes the incredible potential in each and every person in our province, and people living with a disability should not be punished for working. That’s why we are proposing to increase the amount a person on the Ontario Disability Support Program—also known as ODSP—can earn from $200 to $1,000 per month without impacting their income support. This measure would encourage people with a disability who want to increase their work hours to do so and promote more participation in the workforce while not penalizing them for doing so.

It would allow the approximately 25,000 individuals currently in the workforce to keep more of their earnings and could encourage as many as 25,000 more to participate in the workforce.

Our government also recognizes that there are many ODSP recipients who cannot work, and they need our continued support. That is why in August we announced a 5% increase to ODSP rates and, going forward, we plan to adjust ODSP to a rate of inflation, beginning in July 2023. So when the cost of living increases, income support would increase as well. And as we increase support for ODSP recipients, we must also look at reforms so we can improve access and make sure those who need the support can get it faster.

Madam Speaker, we want job seekers to know they are not working alone. They have someone in their corner. That is why we’re investing in skills training. Our Skills Development Fund is supporting groundbreaking programs that give people the skills and training and connections to find and harness new opportunities, and I am pleased to share that we are investing another $40 million for the latest round of this program, bringing total funding for this round to $145 million.

High school students are finding out that in Ontario today they can have a great life in the skilled trades or when working with children, and that is why we are also expanding the Dual Credit Program. This program is creating direct pathways for high school students and learners seeking a career in the trades or early childhood education. Through this program, students are getting the opportunity to complete credits towards both an Ontario secondary school diploma and a college credential or certificate of apprenticeship. This program is giving them the opportunity to begin work earlier. So there is a future in building Ontario.

Ce programme permet à ces étudiants de commencer à travailler plus tôt. Bâtir l’Ontario est porteur d’avenir.

Madam Speaker, I will now take a few moments to share thoughts about some of the pieces of legislative business contained in this bill and some new measures from our fall economic statement.

Our government is proposing to temporarily double the Ontario guaranteed annual income—or GAINS—payment so senior recipients could receive a maximum increase of almost $1,000 per person in 2023. This temporary measure would last for 12 months, starting in January 2023, and is paid monthly. This step is one way we can help low-income seniors pay their costs.

Across the globe, everyone is facing a period of rising prices. During this period, it is important that Ontario helps those who need support the most. We understand the last thing people need is a tax increase at the pumps. That is why we are also proposing extensions to the cut to the gas and fuel tax rates to maintain the reduced tax rates at nine cents per litre. This extension would be until December 31, 2023. Through this measure, households would save $195 on average between July 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023.

We are also proposing to extend the current freeze on the salaries of members of provincial Parliament.

Interjection: Thank you.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I heard a thank you.

As well, we are proposing amendments to the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit. The proposed amendments to the Taxation Act, 2007, would expand eligible expenditures for the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit. We are proposing that eligible expenditures include location fees to help attract domestic and foreign film and television production to Ontario to help incentivize more on-location filming in communities across this great province.

In relation to the Securities Act, we are introducing rule-making authority to the access equals delivery initiative. This proposal shows how Ontario is moving ahead with modernizing the way public companies communicate with investors and the market to reduce regulatory burden and support the digitization of the economy.

We are also proposing amendments related to the framework for target-benefit pension plans. These proposed amendments are intended to clarify that written funding and governance policy would be required for target-benefit plans upon proclamation of the permanent framework, while also maintaining this requirement for other types of pension plans in the future.

One area where we are determined to advance progress is in attracting investment and bringing good manufacturing jobs back to Ontario. Our government is using the strength of Ontario’s supply chains to support globally competitive homegrown manufacturing, and we are helping to see things built right here in Ontario, such as the next generation of hybrid and electric vehicles and batteries. Those batteries and those cars will be sold right across North America. Manufacturing, as many know, is Ontario’s legacy and it is its future. Pour les vendre partout en Amérique du Nord—le secteur manufacturier est à la fois l’héritage et l’avenir de l’Ontario.

This is why we are proposing the creation of a provincial clean energy credit registry. This new proposal would see the launch of a voluntary clean energy credit registry in 2023. A voluntary clean energy credit registry would help boost Ontario’s competitiveness and attract jobs. It will also provide businesses with more options in how they pursue their environmental and sustainability goals. The voluntary clean energy credit registry is among the number of new things we are exploring as we make the province the destination of choice for global investors.

We are also focused on cutting red tape to help clear up supply chain delays, as well as supporting Ontario’s agri-food system so we can get goods and services to customers faster and help create more jobs.

Madam Speaker, we understand that main street Ontario matters, and that is why we’re proposing to increase the number of small businesses that could benefit from the small business tax rate. This change will lower costs for small businesses, providing $185 million in income tax relief over the next three years.

Madam Speaker, our government is building Ontario’s economy, building Ontario’s workforce, building Ontario’s infrastructure and keeping costs down for Ontario families and businesses. Each and every day, in every corner of our immense province, we are getting it done.

Et maintenir les coûts bas pour les familles et les entreprises—chaque jour, aux quatre coins de notre immense province, nous y parvenons.

But, Madam Speaker, we find ourselves in uncertain economic times. All around us, we are seeing emerging economic and fiscal challenges. Ontario is not an island; it is not immune to these pressures. In 2022, Ontario’s consumer price index reached highs not seen since the early 1980s. We are seeing these 40-year price spikes because of the consequences of the worldwide pandemic and because of Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine that is causing supply disruptions across various industries. And while inflation may have eased slightly, the Bank of Canada remains steadfast on the need for further interest rate increases.

Madam Speaker, the cost of groceries and everyday goods that we all rely on continues to remain stubbornly high. Economic turbulence, economic uncertainty and challenges are surely going to continue in the months ahead. Understandably, Ontario seniors, families, workers and businesses are feeling financial pressure and are worried about their budgets. We know this reality is stressful for many. This is why we have built a flexible and responsible fiscal plan, one that takes a targeted approach as we navigate together these uncertain times.

It’s the right plan, because no matter what lies ahead, I am confident in our resiliency. Ontario’s economy, its workers, its businesses and people are tough and resilient, and I have confidence in our plan.

Ontario is proud of its central place in Canada and the federation. Maintaining a close relationship with our federal and provincial partners remains critical as we continue to build Ontario’s economy during this difficult time. Ontario expects the federal government to be a full partner for the Ring of Fire, to respect provincial jurisdiction and, at minimum, to match Ontario’s investments to support critical infrastructure in seizing this generational opportunity. It will happen. It can happen. It should happen.

Effective federal-provincial fiscal transfers are a key factor in Ontario’s long-term fiscal sustainability. Canada and Ontario worked well together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring federal funding was timely and responsive to provincial needs. Over the next year, Ontario will be engaging with the federal government on a number of significant federal-provincial transfer agreements, from health to training to infrastructure. As Canada emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is opportunity and time to focus on long-term arrangements to create a principle-based transfer system, with agreements that are flexible, adequate and fair, and that respect provincial jurisdiction.

Notably, this includes the Canada Health Transfer. Ontario is looking forward to working with the provinces and territories and the federal government to secure an enhanced partnership that helps address the pressures facing the health care system now and provides a foundation for adequate long-term funding.

Awareness of these challenges and the need for resiliency informed our work preparing the 2022 fall economic statement and the fall bill. We are resolved to our task. To conclude, the policies and the measures I have discussed today, which are key in the fall bill and the 2022 fall economic statement, present a clear picture. We have a responsible, flexible plan that is helping businesses, helping workers, helping families and helping seniors across this province as we navigate this period of uncertainty together. Whatever the economic uncertainty may bring, our government has a plan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would now like to pass it over to the member for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound to share more details on our government’s plan.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Mr. Rick Byers: Thank you to the minister. Good morning, members. I am pleased to rise in the Legislature this morning as part of the third reading of the Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022. The people of Ontario deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to the acts and regulations and policies that may shape their lives. Openness, transparency and accountability are cornerstones of our government.

Describing our plan for the people of Ontario to you today, as reflected in the third reading of the Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022, as well as our 2022 fall economic statement, demonstrates how our government is being open, transparent and accountable.

Ontario’s Plan to Build: A Progress Update and the fall bill highlight how our flexible and responsible approach is positioning the province to be ready. The world faces economic headwinds, as well as emerging global changes and challenges, be they political, social, technological, business or health-related.

Since 2018, when our government was first elected, we have known that smarter and more efficient ways to manage the province’s public service and finances were needed. We’ve also known that investments in the people and economy of Ontario were also needed to support our collective well-being and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, over the past few years, our province, and the rest of the world, have faced challenges to our well-being and our prosperity unlike any of us have seen in our lifetime. The once-in-a-generation COVID-19 pandemic tested our resolve as a people and as a province. Through these tough times we stood together, supported one another and we made it through. When COVID-19 caused global economic uncertainty, we were there to support the people of the province of Ontario, but our economic recovery from COVID-19 has been uneven.

Despite progress in recent quarters, the real GDP in some industries still remains below the levels seen before COVID-19 struck in early 2020. The arts, entertainment and recreation, transportation and warehousing and accommodation and food services are sectors seeing continued growth challenges. Certain other industries, such as retail, finance and insurance, have seen growth well above pre-COVID levels.

With this unevenness as a backdrop, today we find ourselves navigating yet another challenging period. Over the next couple of years, we’re likely going to see economic turbulence. We recognize this, that the road ahead could be tough. We are not immune to what is being witnessed all across the globe.

In 2022 Ontario’s consumer price inflation reached a near 40-year high. Rising prices and the risk of an economic slowdown in the very near term are very real. We are suffering from high inflation because of the consequences of a worldwide pandemic and how Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine has impacted the whole world. Commodity prices have been impacted, fuelling inflation.

Here at home, we have seen rising interest rates and climbing prices of everyday goods. Families, seniors and the hard-working people of this province are feeling under financial pressure. It’s easy to wake up and feel unease about that every day—what today may have in store, let alone think about what may be in store tomorrow. Our government understands this feeling. That’s why we continue to offer meaningful support for workers, families, seniors, communities and businesses.

Instead of delivering broad, one-time support that could risk worsening our inflation, our government is thinking strategically and taking a different approach. We have introduced targeted measures that maintain our flexibility as we navigate the uncertainty that lies ahead, while supporting those who need it most.

We have a strong record of reducing red tape. Since 2018, the Ontario government has saved businesses $576 million in annual compliance costs. Our common-sense changes include such things as removing licence plate renewal fees, extending liquor licences to outdoor patio spaces and updating other regulations across government to make it easier and cheaper to comply with the rules. In total, Ontario’s regulatory burden on businesses and individuals has been reduced by 6.5%

The pieces of legislative business contained in this proposed legislation help to address a world today that is full of uncertainty and challenges. To support seniors, so many of whom are on fixed incomes and are especially vulnerable during a time of rising inflation, we are proposing to temporarily double the Ontario guaranteed annual income payment. This will be a temporary measure for 12 months and would start next month, January 2023. This way, our government is able to help about 200,000 of the province’s lowest-income seniors to meet their costs.

During this time of rising prices, it is key that Ontario’s government supports those who need it most. We are proposing an extension to the gasoline and fuel tax rate reductions under the Gasoline Tax Act and Fuel Tax Act. Cutting gas and fuel taxes is one way this government has worked to keep costs down. Putting more money back into the pockets of the people of Ontario is what this and similar cost-reduction measures are all about.

In addition to being a parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Finance, I’m the MPP for the great riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Interjections.

Mr. Rick Byers: Thank you.

It is one of the largest rural ridings in southwestern Ontario and includes the beautiful and iconic Bruce Peninsula. Rural and northern communities are the backbone of this great province. Our government understands the unique way of life and unique challenges that come with living in municipalities outside the big urban centres.

Maintaining a close relationship with our municipal partners remains critical as we continue to build Ontario’s economy during this time of economic uncertainty. We are working in partnership with them to build and strengthen our province. Our government has been increasing ongoing support to municipalities; for example, through doubling the annual investment in the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund program to $400 million—that’s an additional $1 billion over five years—and investing up to $15 million annually over five years in northern municipalities to support infrastructure projects through the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support Fund.

Ontario is also working closely with the federal government to ensure municipalities continue to receive financial support for the critical infrastructure they need to accommodate growth such as new roads, waterworks and transit, including through the new Housing Accelerator Fund. This is in addition to the support provided via the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, or OMPF. The OMPF targets funding to municipalities facing challenging fiscal circumstances and supports areas with limited property assessment.

Incentivizing more on-location filming in communities across Ontario by expanding the list of eligible expenditures for the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit is another way our government is working to support rural and northern communities. We are also proposing amendments to the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit, under the Taxation Act, 2007. If this is approved, eligible expenditures would include location fees to help attract domestic and foreign film and television production to the province. It would also help incentivize more on-location filming in communities across Ontario, providing new business and opportunities for growth in rural communities.

Madam Speaker, now I’ll pivot to Bay Street. In relation to the Securities Act, we are introducing rule-making authority in respect of the access equals delivery initiative. This proposal reflects the way we are modernizing how public companies communicate with investors and the market. This will both reduce the regulatory burden in the sector and further support the ongoing digitization of the Ontario economy.

Another proposal in the fall bill is creating a provincial clean energy credit registry. This proposed change would see the launch of a voluntary clean energy credit registry Ontario in 2023. The registry would help boost Ontario’s competitiveness, attract jobs to the province and provide businesses with more choice in how they pursue their environmental and sustainability goals.

In the 2022 fall economic statement, the government announced that it intends to launch, this winter, a stakeholder consultation on proposed regulations necessary for implementing a permanent target benefit pension framework in Ontario. Target benefit pension plans are intended to provide a person with a monthly stream of income in retirement with predictable contributions for employers. These kinds of pension plans are especially good for workers in sectors with a high number of small businesses, where workers may work for a number of companies over their careers, often in the trades.

If passed, we look forward to these consultations so the government can learn what tools can be implemented to help these industries better support their members and employees with good pensions.

As for business in the fall bill related to Queen’s Park in the Legislature, we are also proposing to extend the freeze on salaries of members of provincial Parliament. You see, Madam Speaker, our government understands, everywhere they look, the people of Ontario see reasons to be concerned about the state of the world and their place in it. Our plan is flexible, responsible and focused on positioning the province to confront today’s realities. We continue to offer many meaningful solutions to support workers and families.

We have introduced targeted measures allowing us to maintain our flexibility as we navigate the uncertainty that lies ahead. We understand that a core area of uncertainty is in the realm of personal budgeting and spending. That is why, to help keep costs down for families, in March, we eliminated the licence plate stickers and refunded drivers who had already paid the cost. This created savings to vehicle owners of an average of $120 in southern Ontario and $60 in northern Ontario each year.

That is why we helped families and businesses by temporarily cutting the gas tax rate by 5.7 cents per litre and the fuel tax rate by 5.3 cents per litre, and we’re proposing to extend this relief by another 12 months, until December 2023.

Interjections.

Mr. Rick Byers: Hear, hear.

Statistics Canada reported that these tax cuts contributed to the drop in gas prices in Ontario, which we saw in July, and it helped lower the rate of the overall consumer price index this summer as well.

Another one of our measures, the Ontario Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses tax credit, is supporting eligible families with up to 75% of their eligible child care expenses. This credit is providing, on average, $1,250 in child care support for this year. These targeted measures are helping to keep costs down for families and businesses.

Ontario is no exception when it comes to the ongoing labour shortages and supply chain disruptions. The challenge is getting goods and services across our province or around the world. It’s a contributing factor to the higher-than-usual inflation. That is why we are seizing opportunities every day.

We are helping to develop the Ring of Fire and capitalize on Ontario’s critical minerals, which remain a strategic necessity for all of Canada. A key part of our Critical Minerals Strategy is the corridor of prosperity, the roads to the Ring of Fire. These roads will help bring critical minerals to the manufacturing hubs in southern Ontario, which will help bring prosperity to northern Ontario and help unlock economic potential.

We are building roads, bridges, subways and highways to make sure people, goods and services can move freely and boost our economy.

We’ve invested in the province’s automotive and manufacturing supply chains, making Ontario a North American leader in building electric and hybrid vehicles and battery manufacturing. Through strong and prudent economic management, we can attract investment and remain a leader in steel manufacturing and other industries.

Attracting more Ontario investment means we need more skilled Ontario workers. Our government has provided support so that thousands of workers can train for the skilled trades and rewarding careers, workers who can help build the critical infrastructure we are investing in all across Ontario. As you can see, this measured and sensible approach is supporting workers and businesses in a targeted way. This leaves government room to build as Ontario navigates emerging challenges.

Madam Speaker, I will close by saying this: Our government has a plan that is ready for whatever uncertain economic times may come Ontario’s way. We are rebuilding the economy and bringing good-paying manufacturing jobs back to the province. We are getting shovels in the ground to build highways, hospitals, transit and other key projects that will give a boost to our economy and bring improvements to the day-to-day lives of the people of Ontario. By investing in skills training and helping recent immigrants and newcomers put their skills and talents to use, we are working for the workers of Ontario.

Together we have been getting it done. We have more work to do. Let’s get it done. Let’s build Ontario.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further debate?

Mr. Stephen Crawford: It’s an honour to be able to speak in the Legislature today, to follow the Minister of Finance and my colleague from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, the parliamentary assistant as well to Finance.

I rise to speak to the third reading of the Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022. As demonstrated by the fall economic statement and the fall bill that is before us now, our government is taking an approach like no other. We are building Ontario’s economy and we are attracting investments and good jobs to our province. We are building Ontario’s workforce by ending the stigma against being employed in the skilled trades. We are building key infrastructure for Ontario, getting shovels in the ground on critical projects across our province. And we are keeping costs down, putting more money back in the pockets of people, where it belongs.

For example, to reduce costs, we are making changes that would allow a person with a disability on the Ontario Disability Support Program to keep more of the money they earn by increasing their monthly earnings exemption from $200 to $1,000 per month. We heard in the committee stage from employers that this will have a positive impact on workers and businesses. Businesses are short of labour and many folks who are not able to work to the extent that they wanted to will now be excited to be able to work and keep more money.

We are also investing an additional $40 million in 2022-23, for a total of $145 million, for the latest round of funding in the Skills Development Fund, to help the businesses that are driving Ontario’s economic growth to hire, train and retain workers.

Starting in 2023-24, we are investing an additional $4.8 million over two years to expand the Dual Credit Program so more secondary school students are encouraged to enter a career in the skilled trades or early childhood education.

We are also providing Ontario small businesses with $185 million in income tax relief over the next three years. To support eligible small businesses, we are now automatically matching municipal property tax reductions for small businesses within all municipalities that adopt the small business property subclass.

Together, Ontario has come far. We have stood together through tough times and got through them together. A growing economy and new jobs are the best ways to support the province’s path to balance and long-term prosperity.

When faced with a degree of uncertainty, governments need to be ready for anything. Governments need to be flexible and forward-thinking. We have a fiscal plan that is ready to support people and businesses when and if the time comes.

As our progress update and the fall bill illustrate, we remain committed to managing Ontario’s finances responsibly and transparently while maintaining our commitment to support the people of Ontario during these uncertain times. The Ministry of Finance is working, along with the Treasury Board, to manage the province’s $198.8-billion budget and to oversee our $186.8 billion in revenues through taxation, business enterprises and non-tax revenue. Our government is making record investments in the priorities that matter to every family, worker and senior in Ontario.

This is not an easy task, but our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, is getting it done. We remain strategic, responsible and measured when it comes to how we support the people of this province.

In the province’s 2022 fall economic statement, Ontario’s real GDP is projected to rise by 2.6% in 2022, then by 0.5% in 2023, 1.6% in 2024 and 2.1% in 2025. These projections are prudently set slightly below the average of private sector forecasts due to uncertain global economic conditions. Ontario’s economy will continue to see growth in the near term, but growth is projected to slow significantly, below 2% in 2023 and 2024. This is something we are thinking about today because the province must remain agile and responsive to any short-term instability while also thinking about our long-term plans for growth.

Ontario’s net debt-to-GDP ratio is now forecast to be 38.4% in 2022-23. This is a decrease of three percentage points compared with the forecast of 41.4% in the 2022 budget. While this has been an improvement, we anticipate that economic uncertainty could cause the net debt-to-GDP ratio to rise in the near term. We are making sure we proceed in a cautious way. Right now, paying interest on the province’s debt remains Ontario’s fourth-largest expense. That’s billions of dollars that could be invested in public services and programs.

That is why our government has taken prudent steps in our 2022 fall economic statement. We are making record investments in the priorities that matter to the people of this province: building infrastructure, training workers and keeping costs down for families and businesses.

Speaker, one of the ways we’re working to keep costs down while fostering economic growth in our time of global uncertainty is in the regulated sector of auto insurance. The main way we do that is through the provincial regulatory agency, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario or FSRA for short.

Insurance companies are crucial to Ontario’s continued economic vitality and growth. Just the other week, I spoke at an auto insurance sector event. I reiterated to the audience what Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said in the 2022 Ontario economic outlook and fiscal review: that the province is facing economic uncertainty, like the rest of the world. You see, many sectors, like the insurance industry, are experiencing challenging market conditions. In the face of these challenges, they must continue to meet the needs of their Ontario insurance customers.

Insurance companies are also seeing the stubbornly high costs that businesses and consumers are seeing across the board. They see it through their high claims costs. And the year ahead is likely to be marked by ongoing economic turbulence and an economy-wide slowdown in growth.

To help keep costs down in this part of the economy, in the spring of 2020, we took quick and targeted action to enable financial relief for drivers. FSRA has reported that those actions have allowed over $1.8 billion in consumer savings since March 2020. We are continuing to work with FSRA on our commitment to improve auto insurance and reduce the cost to families across Ontario. We are creating more choices for consumers and developing strong anti-fraud measures in the auto insurance system.

Our government is also working with FSRA to develop a new framework for ensuring fairness in rates that would replace outdated guidance, including on existing territorial rating.

Speaker, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for not only overseeing Ontario’s auto insurance sector, but also, of course, overseeing the province’s finances. As noted in the fall economic statement, our government is projecting a deficit of $ 12.9 billion in 2022-23. That is nearly $7 billion lower than the outlook published in the 2022 budget. However, over the medium term, our government is projecting deficits of $8.1 billion in 2023-24 and $0.7 billion in 2024-25. This shrinking number could get our province back on track for a balanced budget.

This approach demonstrates our ongoing effort aimed at eliminating the province’s structural deficit in the face of numerous challenges over the past couple of years.

Revenues in 2022-23 are projected to be $186.8 billion. That is $7 billion higher than forecasted in the 2022 budget. The increase in revenue is predominantly due to higher-than-expected 2021 taxation revenues. This revenue and deficit situation will help our government and the people of Ontario, because as a responsible government, we are making sure that we preserve the flexibility necessary in case of unforeseen events while continuing to implement our long-term plan to invest in the people of Ontario.

We know the economic road ahead may not be easy for our government or the people of Ontario. In the face of persistent inflation and more economic turbulence, we must promote stability by remaining flexible, responsive and strategic. We simply cannot ignore fiscal challenges that may be on the horizon and embark on a massive spending spree. This would only worsen inflation. Our government spared no expense to protect and support the people of Ontario throughout the COVID pandemic, but now is the time for us to show restraint. More provincial spending will only drag out an economic downturn.

I know many people from all walks of life are concerned about a possible economic downturn. Our government is focused on making sure Ontario is in a strong position to manage risks while remaining supportive of the people in this great province of Ontario. Whatever economic uncertainty may bring, we have a plan.

Our first-ever Building Ontario Progress Report shows many of our recent accomplishments, including attracting $16 billion in transformative automotive investments over the last two years to help Ontario become a North American leader in electric and hybrid vehicle building and battery manufacturing. And in my riding of Oakville alone, the Ford of Canada plant is being retooled to build electric vehicles so that Ontario will not only build electric vehicles but will actually be a global hub of electric vehicles, with essential manufacturing and critical minerals all located right here in our province.

Indeed, later today Premier Ford is in Ingersoll, Ontario, to have another announcement in the province of Ontario related to electric-vehicle manufacturing.

Attracting these investments didn’t come by luck; it came by putting in the proper policies, the proper framework to attract investment. From 2003 to 2018, our great province saw over 300,000 manufacturing jobs leave our province, but by reducing red tape, reducing the cost of electricity for major manufacturers, by creating the right regime for business to flourish, Ontario is now attracting net investments, and we will be a global leader.

Ontario has also attracted investments of $2.5 billion over the past year, which will support the transformation in the steel sector and help make us a world-leading producer of clean steel. In both Hamilton and Sault Ste. Marie, our government is helping industry adapt and modernize so that Ontario is a leader not only in steel manufacturing but in clean steel manufacturing. We should be proud of the investments we’re making and the environmental impact that will come out as a result of that.

We are also supporting $8.7 billion in cost savings and support for Ontario businesses in 2022, with $4 billion going to small businesses.

We have also added over 11,700 health care workers, including nurses and personal support workers, since 2020.

We’ve also committed $25.1 billion in highway expansion and rehabilitation over the next 10 years so our communities are connected, gridlock is reduced, goods and people keep moving across the province. Our government is committed to getting people from A to B more quickly and safely by investing in subways, GO trains, roads and bridges, ensuring the people of Ontario spend less time commuting and more time with their families, their loved ones. Ensuring businesses can get goods and products to market quickly and safely has certainly been a goal of the government of Ontario.

I am confident that the Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022, and our fall economic statement demonstrate this government’s strong track record and well-considered projections for the future of this province. We are making progress, Speaker, building what this rapidly growing province wants and desperately needs: hospitals, long-term-care homes, schools, subways and highways.

Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak to the third reading of the Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022, as well as discuss the 2022 Ontario economic outlook and fiscal review, Ontario’s Plan to Build: A Progress Update. As shown in the fall economic statement and the fall bill before us today, our government is taking an approach like no other. Together, we have provided cost savings and support for Ontario businesses through actions such as lowering payroll costs, providing relief from electricity prices and taxes, and cutting red tape.

These are the kinds of issues you may not see on the front page of the paper every single day, but they are critically important to ensuring businesses succeed and new investment is put into the province of Ontario. These are actions taken to increase Ontario’s competitiveness, strengthen provincial supply chains and make government services easier to access and interact with.

Our responsible, targeted plan demonstrates how we have been able to maintain a strong record of fiscal management while remaining responsive to the people of Ontario. It is the right plan to help families, seniors, workers and small businesses weather the economic challenges we may face.

Despite what may be on the horizon, I have confidence in Ontario’s economy, its businesses, its workers and its people.

We are committed to laying a strong and resilient fiscal foundation for future generations. We know that when our government took office, in June 2018, Ontario was the most indebted subsovereign government in the entire world. That was the legacy we were left with. That’s why the people of Ontario voted for a Progressive Conservative majority government back in 2018—for the future generations, to ensure we had economic stability and prosperity, to ensure we had the financial path to be able to support great education, great health care, great transportation. We needed that in order to secure our future.

And once again, of course, we were elected in 2022 with an even larger mandate, to support that same policy plan.

We’ve laid out a path of economic prosperity for everyone in Ontario, despite what challenges may come our way. This government recognizes the potential in every person who calls Ontario home. We are responsibly managing government spending and ensuring financial integrity. We want to get through these uncertain times better and stronger than ever to ensure Ontario remains the best place for people to call home. We are building a stronger province—a province with a strong economy and good-paying jobs.

We’ve increased the minimum wage for workers in the province of Ontario to support lower-paid workers.

We want to be a province where anyone can start and grow a business. That’s why we are a government that actually opened and supported the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction to help get rid of duplicative regulations. Ontario has over 300,000 regulations. We have more red tape and regulations than any jurisdiction in the world. Our government is removing those that are duplicative, those that are unnecessary, those that are burdensome, to support families and individuals in this province, so we continue to make our province the best place to live, work and raise a family.

We want to be a province where everyone feels connected through highways, new roads and more reliable public transit. The largest transportation infrastructure investment in the history of Canada is being led by our government to build subways throughout Toronto, but, beyond that, to expand and electrify the GO network to regions outside of Toronto and the GTA and beyond; to build roads, bridges, highways supporting the 413. Individuals and families are supportive of this, but so are businesses. They know that the Toronto and GTA highways are among the most congested anywhere in North America.

People looking into our province see a great talent pool of people. Toronto, the GTA—in fact, all of Ontario—is a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing in the future, but also for finance and technology. We have some of the most innovative and exciting companies in the world. But if people can’t commute in a responsible and reasonable time, if they can’t afford a house to live in those communities, if they can’t get safely and quickly from A to B, they’re not going to want to live here, and we’re not going to be able to attract the best and the brightest.

So our government is committed to getting people connected through public transportation as well as highways, subways and bridges.

Our goal, of course, is to have a province where you can build a career and raise a family, to make it affordable. Our government has been committed to making life affordable, whether it’s the child care tax credit, whether it’s reducing the licence sticker fees that my colleague talked about earlier, helping save families hundreds of dollars, in many cases, per year.

The economic challenges before Ontario may not be for an easy road, and there are some things we cannot predict. Ontario is not an island; we are subject to the world’s economy. But by remaining flexible, we can overcome any challenges and make Ontario a better place.

I’m confident in our plan and proud of the significant progress our government has made on our plan to build. I certainly hope that the opposition will see all the good that is in the fall economic statement here, and even if they may disagree with some things and typically not vote to support the government—I understand they have a role as opposition. But I hope they’ll see the good in the fall economic statement here, the good that we’re doing for those that are on ODSP, for the seniors, for the businesses, and support the fall economic statement.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): It is now time for questions.

MPP Jamie West: Thank you to the Minister of Finance and his parliamentary assistants for their debate. One of the things the bill talks about a lot is how difficult it is to make ends meet, and one of the things that concerns me is that people on social assistance, ODSP and OW—I know they’ll talk about increasing allowable earnings and the 5% increase to ODSP. In OW, there was no increase at all.

What I want to draw attention to is that the poverty line in Ontario is $19,930. OW yearly makes $12,478, and ODSP with the 5% increase will make $15,472.80. Are the minister and parliamentary assistants comfortable with this massive deficit, recognizing these people will be below the poverty line by a substantial amount for the next four years?

Mr. Rick Byers: I thank the member for his question. A lot has been talked about ODSP, and we on this side of the House are very proud of three major measures we’re doing to this program:

(1) We’ve increased it by 5%, as you well know. That’s a major change, something that hasn’t been done before, and that’s now in the books.

(2) Indexing it to inflation, beginning in July of next year, and that again will connect ODSP payments to inflation—a fundamental change.

(3) The measure in this fall economic statement of increasing the income threshold from a monthly level of $200 to $1,000 is a game-changer. We heard from committee representatives in the finance committee first-hand how powerful that will be, and we’re looking forward to seeing that as an effective change, if this bill is passed.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Mr. Lorne Coe: This past Friday, I had the honour of having Premier Ford and the finance minister out to my riding. One of the stops was the skills development centre at Durham College. Both speakers spoke about the importance of skills development in our province. Could the member from Oakville speak a little bit more broadly about how the legislation proposes to address the labour shortage in the province of Ontario, particularly as it relates to the skilled trades?

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Thank you to the member from Whitby—a very good question.

We understand that in the province of Ontario there’s an enormous skills gap. We are missing economic growth that we potentially could have if we had a match of skills to jobs. There is an enormous shortage of skilled workers here in Ontario, and the Skills Development Fund specifically supports innovative training projects that upskill workers and job seekers, including apprentices, preparing them for meaningful careers.

The first two rounds of funding delivered 388 training projects, helping more than 393,000 workers in the next step of their career for in-demand industries. So by bridging the gap, by encouraging young people, supporting workers, transitioning workers from perhaps sectors that they no longer feel comfortable in or would like to adapt to, we are encouraging that skills mismatch to be reduced.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: I have a question for our colleagues. I heard, many times in this allocution, the government say how responsible a government they are.

Well, let me remind you that you’re also signatory to Treaty 9. If you talk about responsibility, you need to address the water advisories. You need to address the housing crisis. When you have communities that are two, three generations living in a single dwelling, communities that can’t expand because of government issues, these issues need to be addressed. Responsible governments would recognize that they need to fix these issues.

I’d like to hear the colleagues across: What have they done to address that, if they’re a responsible government?

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Thank you to the member opposite. This morning, we’re specifically speaking about the fall economic statement. No doubt, the issues that you raised may not specifically be in this particular bill. However, we have, for example, Bill 23 that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has brought through, which certainly encourages the building of affordable housing. In fact, we’ve lowered or reduced development fees, for example, on not-for-profit housing, on affordable housing. That will certainly help make housing more affordable to those in need. That’s certainly one of the aspects that we are doing to make life more affordable for the people of Ontario.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Ms. Christine Hogarth: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It’s always nice to see you in the chair.

We’ve talked about building and what our government has done—we’re building hospitals, we’re building long-term-care beds, we’re building the much-needed transit here for the people of Toronto. But I just wanted to ask the parliamentary assistants, what are we doing to help support our seniors? Some of our seniors are living on a fixed income. During this time of rising costs of living and economic uncertainty, can you tell us how they fit into this plan?

Mr. Rick Byers: I thank the member for her great question. It’s so important, how we’re supporting seniors, and this government is doing that in a number of different ways. One of the things we’re doing immediately is to help vulnerable seniors by proposing to double the Guaranteed Annual Income System payment, GAINS—that’s right, double those payments—starting next month in January 2023. It would support about 200,000 of Ontario’s lowest-income seniors. This is such an important measure, and it’s going to those that need it. This is what this government has done with these targeted measures in the fall economic statement to benefit those most in need.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Kiiwetinoong.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: It’s always an honour to be able to get up and speak on behalf of the people of Kiiwetinoong, especially on the fall economic statement.

There seems to be a lot of talk about the Ring of Fire, but also there’s lots of talk about how Ontario is the best place to call home. It all depends on where you live. I know, when you talk about the Ring of Fire, you’re talking about working with two First Nations, and there are so many First Nations in the surrounding area of the Ring of Fire. That’s exactly what colonizers do; that’s a very colonial approach. When are you going to start talking to other First Nations? When are you going to stop being very colonial?

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Thank you to the member opposite. You do raise a good point. You mentioned that not all of Ontario is sharing the prosperity. Although we are one of the most prosperous provinces of one of the most prosperous countries in the world, there isn’t entirely a path to prosperity for everyone. You’ve brought up northern Ontario, for example, and parts of northern Ontario where there is a lot more poverty and a lot more social problems as a result of that.

So our government is committed to building the Ring of Fire not only to help support the global environment, to help make the world a better place from an environmental point of view, to help industry, but to support northern communities and to help those northern communities. That is a path forward out of poverty for northern communities.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Final question.

Mr. Brian Saunderson: I realize we’re running out of time, so I’ll be very quick with my question.

This province is facing an infrastructure deficit. My question to the PAs is if they could they advise us, please, how the proposed measures in this legislation fit into this government’s larger plan to build Ontario and invest in the priorities that matter to the people of this province, from infrastructure, roads and schools to hospitals.

Mr. Rick Byers: I thank the member for his question. Governments have always, in the past, had a shorter-term focus: “Let’s try and deal with what’s next week or next month.” This government has a long-term focus, especially in infrastructure, with a record 10-year plan for $158 billion, the biggest investment ever in transit, which will be fundamental to the economy and the environment, frankly; health care, with a $40-billion investment; education; long-term care, and on and on and on. This government is there to build infrastructure for the people of Ontario.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): We’ve run out of time for questions and answers. It’s now time for members’ statements.

Third reading debate deemed adjourned.

Members’ Statements

Skills training

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Syncreon is an automotive company which employs people in Essex county and in the surrounding areas. Syncreon does work for Stellantis, but in July of this year, Stellantis announced that they were going to bring some of that work back into the Stellantis shops, and that means about 300 syncreon employees have now been displaced.

But they have hope, and that’s because a new labour action centre has been opened for those syncreon automotive workers. The labour action centre offers a holistic approach to job-seeking, with peer-to-peer support from people who come directly from the ranks of syncreon. The centre will provide vital community support and direct assistance and will help syncreon employees with new employment, retraining and upgrading of their skills.

The new labour action centre is a partnership between the Ontario government and Unifor. The Ontario government is putting in $360,000, and Unifor is making an in-kind contribution of $45,000.

I want to thank the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for his support, and I want to join him in saying that we will never stop working for workers.

Road safety

MPP Jill Andrew: On November 23, Kartik Saini, a 20-year-old international student, was struck, dragged and killed in my community at Yonge and St. Clair by a Ford F-250 pickup truck.

Kartik was a cyclist. He was riding his bike home that day. He deserved to get home safely. All road users, including vulnerable road users, deserve to get home safely. They do not have two tonnes of steel protecting them.

On November 30, a ghost bike memorial ride was organized with hundreds from the cycling community and allies in attendance to honour Kartik.

Speaker, we must have tougher road safety rules to save lives. We must implement a Vision Zero provincial road safety strategy, to reduce deaths and injuries on Ontario’s roads to zero. Make the Fairness for Road Users Act and the Protecting Vulnerable Road Users Act law today to help families and communities find justice and some comfort, if that is ever possible. These laws will make our roads safer for all.

I want to thank Cycle Toronto; Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists; the bicycle mayor of Toronto; Bells on Yonge; Centre for Active Transportation; Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition; the Bike Brigade; Darnel Harris, ED of Our Greenway; Robin Richardson of Yonge4All, and so many others who are leaders advocating for safe roads for vulnerable users and overall low-carbon modes of transportation, like walking, biking and taking transit.

Yonge4All has been appealing for our midtown Toronto Yonge complete street pilot to be permanent. Complete streets are safer streets that take into account the needs of all users. I support their work because everyone deserves to get home safely.

WindReach Farm

Mr. Lorne Coe: WindReach Farm in my riding strives to enrich the lives of persons of all ages with special needs by providing opportunities to enjoy experiences in farming, nature, outdoor recreation and other activities, and to share those experiences with family and friends.

This past Saturday, I joined the hard-working staff from the farm and its many supporters from across the region of Durham to celebrate the 33 years that WindReach has provided impactful programs and services. I believe that the heart of any community like Whitby resides in the people who create ongoing, meaningful change and the support of those who need extra care and attention. Days like today, when we’re celebrating the 33 years, are a celebration of WindReach Farm’s history, but they’re also a chance to rededicate ourselves to the future, to ensure that WindReach Farm continues to be a safe place for those with physical, emotional and intellectual disabilities.

Speaker, as their member of provincial Parliament, I dedicate myself to continuing the great work of WindReach Farm.

Municipal planning

Ms. Jessica Bell: This morning, I was in committee on Bill 39, debating one of the most unsettling and troubling bills that has passed through this Legislature in decades. Bill 39 is an attack on the fundamental tenets of representative democracy, on citizen voice, on citizen say. By giving mayors permission to pass laws with just one third of votes, the Premier has made it clear that representative democracy and majority rule don’t matter much to him. And it won’t just stop in Toronto and Ottawa—minority rule could come to any municipality in Ontario, through regulatory decree.

We are living through a time when democracy is under threat. Who would have thought that the greatest threat to democracy here in Ontario would come from the Premier?

This bill will make Ontario an appalling first. No democratic government across North America makes rules using minority rule except for us.

Bill 39 is an attack on farmland and our greenbelt. We are one of seven regions in the world that grows more food than we need. In this era of climate crisis and food insecurity, our farmland should be expanded, not paved over—but paving over is exactly what this government is doing, by hiving off a

section of the greenbelt for development owned by some of the government’s largest PC donors, giving them the opportunity to make untold profit at our expense.

We can do better than this. Homes are for people. Democracy is for all of us. Repeal Bill 39.

Driver examination centres

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: This morning, I’m proud to share some amazing news for the great people of Brampton. Our government is committed to improving and innovating the way we provide services to people across the province, which is why I’m so proud to announce that our government is implementing a new remote queueing pilot project that is aimed at streamlining and innovating our DriveTest centres, addressing current wait times and improving the customer experience. This pilot project will start with DriveTest Brampton and in a matter of days expand to DriveTest Toronto Metro East.

This will allow customers to join the queue for services prior to arriving at DriveTest Brampton and track their place as well as the estimated wait time. These new changes now mean that the residents of Brampton will no longer have to wait in line and will be updated with an SMS text message as they approach the front of the queue. Under the pilot, customers can join the queue simply by clicking a link available on the DriveTest website.

Speaker, this good news doesn’t just end here. We’re also expanding the hours of operation of DriveTest Brampton and increasing the number of customer service agents to further reduce wait times and queues.

Our government is committed to reducing wait times and innovating services, and this is a government that is getting it done for the people of Brampton and for the people of Ontario.

Indigenous affairs

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker. Remarks in Oji-Cree.

I rise today and stand in solidarity with Grassy Narrows as they celebrated the 20th anniversary of their successful logging blockade on December 2.

This logging blockade was an action of land protection for members of Grassy Narrows. Elders, youth, community and council members showed up to say no to unwanted resource development. They stopped loggers on the highway in the middle of winter to protect their lands. The people of Grassy Narrows have seen first-hand the effects that clear-cut logging was having on their treaty territories. Since then, they have prevented industrial logging on their 7,000-square-kilometre homeland that saved over 15 million trees and helped build the movement for Indigenous sovereignty and “land back.”

Free, prior and informed consent are more than just words. They are actions. Solidarity with Grassy Narrows land defenders. Meegwetch.

Food drives

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Good morning, everyone. What do you think of when you imagine holiday dinner? Golden turkey with fluffy mashed potatoes and gravy, latkes with sour cream and apple sauce? Unfortunately, food won’t make it to the tables of all Ontarians for the holidays this year: 16.1% of Ontarian households face food insecurity, and that number is, sadly, only growing.

This problem has only accelerated in recent years. In beautiful Beaches–East York, the crisis has many turning to food banks, which have been seeing a record number of people coming out to use their services. More than ever, food banks need our help so they can serve our communities best. I’m proud to showcase some of the organizations in my riding:

—Grant AME Church provides food hampers to over 250 families in need every Christmas and is currently accepting donations of food, personal care items, diapers, toys, gift cards and monetary donations.

—Community Centre 55’s Share a Christmas program serves over 100 families. This year, they are looking for new and unwrapped toys, monetary donations, and gift cards for teens.

—Grace Pascoe Care Centre at Cavalry Baptist Church has been operating for over 60 years and is accepting food and monetary donations for hampers.

During this season and all year round, we must choose compassion and show kindness to others. My team and I will be volunteering at and making donations to food banks in our neighbourhood over the break, and we welcome you to do so too with your teams. Thank you and happy holidays, and thanks for listening so intently.

Mental health and addiction services

Mr. Vincent Ke: An alumni friend’s son, David, recently died while studying at university. His parents are overcome by their loss. My heartfelt condolences to David’s family and friends.

Speaker, David was an exceptional child, full of potential. Suicide robbed him of the future he richly deserved. Sadly, he is not alone. David’s parents hope this story will prevent other tragedies.

The weight of academic and social expectations may feel crushing to vulnerable youth. We must pay attention to their struggles. First-year college or university students are often away from the security of home for the first time. The pressure to achieve success is overwhelming.

Speaker, I call on high schools, universities, colleges, families and peers to all take action to support our youth and arm them with the tools of resilience and hope.

Our government is ready to play a role as well. Students in need of help can find it at any one of 22 youth wellness hubs across Ontario. These hubs offer mental health and addictions supports, social services navigation and primary care service to anyone aged 12 to 25, all on a walk-in basis. They offer our youth a safe space to express themselves and speak about their issues. Their lives may depend on it.

Events in Etobicoke–Lakeshore

Ms. Christine Hogarth: You know, the weather outside is frightful, but this House is so delightful—well, most days, anyway, which is why I’m pleased to buck up the festive spirit in this place and share some holiday tidings from the great riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore. Before I do that, I want to give a shout-out to my uncle Robert who is watching today, because I know he’s with my mom this week. Thanks for your help, Uncle Robert.

Over these last special weeks we’ve had a tree lighting at the Kingsway BIA.

Next, this past weekend—oh, it was a busy one—on Saturday I walked the 32nd Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade. Thanks to the volunteers and the families who braved the wind and rain—and oh, did it rain—to wait to see Santa Claus.

Next it was off to the Skate with Santa and the Franklin Horner Christmas Market, where I purchased some great gifts; and then off to Great Lakes Brewery for the Hops for Hunger Food Drive and holiday market, where a dollar from each sale of white eggnog stout was generously donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Lastly, this holiday message wouldn’t be complete without a shout-out to our great staff in our constituency offices and the team here at Queen’s Park. I would like to mention one staff member in particular, Joe Garisto, who has created Christmas cards, calendars and countless communication pieces for all of the Ontario PC caucus members and our leaders for the past 36 years. Joe, thank you for your dedicated work, your service with a smile. You have always been there when I needed you, even when I show up in your office with that last-minute request. Thank you. You have never let me down. Thank you for your service.

In closing, Mr. Speaker: The season is slowly ending and there’s no election pending. Point of order before I go: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Darcy McKeough

Mr. Trevor Jones: As a lifelong learner I find it fascinating to listen to the tributes offered by colleagues on behalf of our former members. It’s in this spirit that I want to offer my sincere gratitude to one of our most esteemed past colleagues and living legends, who continues to contribute by sharing his unique experiences and offering sage, relevant advice on a wide variety of topics to many of our members in this House.

Few people have served this province as well and as nobly as the Honourable Darcy McKeough. Born in Chatham on January 31, 1933, he remains active in the community and closely follows politics and current events from his lovely home, Bally McKeough, in beautiful Cedar Springs, Chatham-Kent.

Elected MPP five times between 1963 and 1977, McKeough was mockingly dubbed “the duke of Kent” by opposition members and has worn that title as a badge of honour ever since. As Treasurer of Ontario, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Energy during his time in office, McKeough created regional governments to bring more efficient services to our citizens and fought to achieve budget surpluses long before they were fashionable.

I feel fortunate for my friendship with my honourable predecessor and privileged to continue to glean insights from his lived experiences, a gentleman who is so delightful in any social setting and who continues to offer highly relevant solutions to contemporary matters with a level of competence, kindness and charm that I hope to one day aspire to. Thank you, Darcy, for continuing to contribute to our communities.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today the consul general of Chile in Toronto, Mr. Fernando Morales Godoy. He is accompanied by Matias Ahumada. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guests to the Legislature.

Hon. David Piccini: It gives me great honour to acknowledge our page captain today, Alex Vanden Bosch, who is from my riding of Northumberland–Peterborough South, who hails from Grafton. She’s joined in the gallery by her parents, Irina and Justin; and Sue and Tim, her grandparents.

You have an outstanding granddaughter and daughter. Welcome to Queen’s Park. It’s an honour to have you here.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: I’d like to welcome today an incredible community leader from beautiful Beaches–East York. He was instrumental in delivering vaccinations when we were in the extreme heat of the pandemic. He was a huge volunteer; an incredible, sensational person: Bruce Pausey.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: I would like to introduce representatives from Queen’s University who are here today: Dr. Patrick Deane, the principal and vice-chancellor; Owen Crawford-Lem, the rector; Craig Leroux, director of government and corporate relations; Dr. Nancy Ross, vice-principal of research; and Ann Tierney, vice-provost and dean of student affairs. Thank you for being here at Queen’s Park.

Mr. Graham McGregor: I don’t believe she is here yet, but this morning we will be joined by one of my constituents from the great riding of Brampton North: Cheryl Crompton. It is also her birthday today.

Mr. Ted Hsu: I’d like to add my welcome and introductions to my friends and neighbours who are visiting from Queen’s University, located in the great riding of Kingston and the Islands—and I know that there are many alumni of Queen’s here in this chamber. I invite everybody to meet with Queen’s later at the reception, if not in your offices, to understand the contribution of our post-secondary institutions to our society, to our economy, and to find out what they would like to see us do to help them contribute even more.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: Today, I’d like to welcome the Grain Farmers of Ontario to Queen’s Park. In particular, from District 2, the great area of Chatham-Kent, I’d like to welcome Gus Ternoey. In the spirit of the holidays, I invite everyone to join the Grain Farmers of Ontario in rooms 228 and 230 later this afternoon.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: I’d like to welcome to the Legislature today representatives of the Ontario Public Transit Association. They’re here for their advocacy day. I don’t see them yet in the members’ gallery, but I want to welcome: Karen Cameron, president and CEO of OPTA; Rick Leary, CEO, and Kyla Marrin, manager of government relations and policy, of the Toronto Transit Commission; Carla Stout, general manager of the Niagara Transit Commission; Renée Amilcar, general manager of OC Transpo; and Kelly Paleczny, general manager of the London Transit Commission. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Mike Harris: I would like to echo the sentiment from the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and welcome Lorena Patterson and Jan Westcott here today from Spirits Canada. They will be participating in a fantastic reception with the grain farmers later this afternoon.

Hon. Doug Downey: I’d also like to bring welcome to Jan Westcott, a former page and from Spirits Canada; and Andrew Walasek of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs. I enjoy both of their products, but not together.

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: Today, I would like to welcome my son Joey Cuzzetto here. He’s here from Queen’s University, as well.

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: I just wanted to say a special hello to my good friend up in the gallery, Randy Aulbrook. Welcome to the House.

Mr. John Vanthof: I see we have a couple of seconds left. I’d like to give a shout-out to my grandson Joey. He is one year old today and he’s celebrating with his other grandparents in Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: On that note, I’d like to wish a very, very happy birthday to my brother Sean, who is celebrating today. Happy birthday, Sean.

Mr. Ross Romano: I would like to give a special shout-out to one of our pages from the great riding of Sault Ste. Marie. Grace Curran is with us, and I really want to say a special thank you to her.

Question Period

Health care

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Minister of Health. The Minister of Health has risen in this House countless times over the past few weeks saying that the government had “prepared” for the surge in respiratory illnesses. And yet, just this past weekend, CHEO in Ottawa has had to call in the Red Cross to help. That is not what a well-resourced and prepared health care system looks like, Speaker.

Does the minister think it’s acceptable for a hospital to have to call in the Red Cross?

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

Mrs. Robin Martin: We understand how difficult this fall has been. We’ve inherited a broken system, which has been put under pressure by the triple threat now of RSV, COVID and influenza. But we inherited this system and we intended to take steps to fix it, which is what we’ve been doing to ensure children get the care they need.

Our government is in constant contact with our pediatric hospitals. In fact, our government funded a second pediatric ICU at CHEO for the fall surge, which CHEO has been staffing until now. But now they need a little extra help, and they have asked a small team to come in temporarily from Red Cross to assist them with the second pediatric ICU, but that was certainly part of our planning to make sure we had the care we’d need for pediatric patients at CHEO and other pediatric hospitals.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Well, Speaker, I’ll help the minister out: Calling in the Red Cross to help in our hospitals should never have to happen—full stop.

Ontarians deserve a health care system that provides the care they need when they need it. CHEO has already had to cancel surgeries, open a second pediatric ICU and transfer teenage patients to adult hospitals. It’s now clear that this government hasn’t done enough.

Why didn’t the minister do more to ensure that the province was prepared for the respiratory season?

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Our government has been moving all kinds of things in order to make sure we’re prepared for the fall surge. That is why we opened a second pediatric ICU at CHEO and why CHEO is now making sure they have more staff to assist.

As Tammy DeGiovanni, the chief nursing officer at CHEO, has said:

“It has been all hands on deck at CHEO this viral season as we have responded to unprecedented volumes” of “RSV, the flu and COVID.... We have redeployed staff and medical staff from surgical and medical care units, added extra beds and workers in our pediatric intensive care and emergency departments as well as in-patient units, and asked non-clinical staff to support clinical teams where possible. Everyone at CHEO has been” doing all they can “to take care of kids and their families.”

Our government applauds the work of our health care workers in making sure that pediatric patients and all patients in our system are getting the care they need.

Interjections.

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

Final supplementary question.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, there is a massive disconnect between what the minister says and what’s happening in our children’s hospitals.

The FAO has shown that in the first half of the year, the government underspent in health care by nearly a billion dollars. To add insult to injury, the government plans to appeal the ruling on Bill 124, which has already driven countless health care workers out of our system. The government continues to underfund and degrade our publicly funded health care system.

Why is the minister letting the situation in our hospitals get so bad?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The President of the Treasury Board.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Let’s be clear: For the last year, as our public accounts showed, we increased funding to health care by $5.2 billion in base funding. That is the largest increase in the history of this province.

What does that mean? That means that since March of 2020 this province has added over 12,000 health care professionals in Ontario. This year alone, the Ontario college of nurses has registered over 12,800 nurses. This is because the investments that this government is making to shore up our health human resources are working.

We’re going to continue to make those historic and unprecedented investments into health care to ensure that we have the support across this province.

Land use planning

Mr. Peter Tabuns: To the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: The Harris PC government sold off public land in the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve over two decades ago at deeply discounted prices, on the condition that these lands remain farmland in perpetuity. By forgoing revenues and selling these lands at a deep discount, the people of Ontario bought and paid for a massive investment in Ontario’s natural and agriculture systems. The value of this public investment is today worth billions of dollars.

Why is the minister betraying the public’s trust by removing these farmland protections and giving away this immensely valuable public investment to powerful land speculators like the De Gasperis family?

Hon. Steve Clark: The government wants to thank everyone who provided comments on the Environmental Registry of Ontario for our posting related to the greenbelt. As members will know, that posting, at the end of the day, will add over 2,000 acres to the greenbelt while at the same time providing, under very strict criteria, the opportunity to build up to 50,000 homes.

Because his members wouldn’t let me read an excerpt from Mayor Kevin Ashe from the city of Pickering regarding the DRAP, I’ll do it today, Speaker, with your indulgence. Mayor Ashe says, “I would also like to support and thank you and your government for your efforts in proposing the removal of the Cherrywood Area Lands from the greenbelt plan and in proposing to repeal the Central Pickering Development Plan. In light of this planned residential and commercial growth, I am encouraged that your ministry will ultimately augment and strengthen the greenbelt by adding 9,400 acres to it.”

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Minister: Immediately after public lands in the preserve were sold off at deep discounts, they were snapped up by speculators like Silvio De Gasperis, even though those lands were protected and could not be developed. It’s as if they knew these protections might soon be removed. Sure enough, the city of Pickering, under Mayor Dave Ryan, removed the protections, in violation of the agreement between the city, the region and the province.

The Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act was passed in 2005 to reverse this betrayal of public trust. Why is the minister repealing the act and once again betraying the public trust?

Hon. Steve Clark: Again, the member opposite quotes former Mayor Ryan. Mayor Ashe references Mayor Ryan in his letter. In fact, in the first paragraph, he acknowledges that I recently received a letter from Mayor Ryan requesting the repeal of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act, 2005, in the city of Pickering. As noted in this letter, the lands would be part of a regional and municipal growth plan for settlement area. This was in a plan prior to the greenbelt’s creation, some 20 years ago. We’ve got letters from both Mayor Ryan and now Mayor Ashe asking the government to do exactly what the posting on the environmental registry did.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the minister: The sale of discounted public lands in the preserve was overseen by Tony Miele, who was president of the Ontario Realty Corporation. Mr. Miele and the ORC both had a reputation for questionable land deals. Mr. Miele currently serves as chair of the PC Ontario Fund, at a time when serious questions are being asked about why the beneficiaries of questionable planning decisions by this government tend to be PC Party donors.

The minister is about to remove protections from the preserve, giving billions of dollars’ worth of public wealth to private interests. Why is the minister enabling this betrayal of the public trust?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll remind the members of the House that you can’t impute motive.

Government House leader to respond.

Hon. Paul Calandra: The member knows that nothing could be further from the truth. We were elected on a very strong platform to ensure that the people of the province of Ontario were well serviced by their government. What that means right now is that the people of the province of Ontario know that we are in a housing crisis. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has brought forward a very thoughtful program that would allow us to work in consultation and in co-operation with the city of Pickering to ensure that we can bring homes to the people of this province.

I look around me at my caucus here and I wonder how many of them are first-generation Canadians whose parents came here with one dream, and that dream was to have a better life for their family and for their kids. Part of that dream, I know from my parents, was to have their first home.

The opposition would take that dream away from the over 500,000 people who are expected to come here each and every year. Mr. Speaker, we won’t do that. We have a responsibility to the people of the province of Ontario to ensure that they can meet their dreams like countless generations have. They want to take that away from people; we’ll make sure that they get it.

Government accountability

Mr. Jeff Burch: Speaker, through you to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: Last week, the minister failed to explain why he was allowing his ministry to be lobbied by his former chief of staff Luca Bucci, who left the ministry in April, less than eight months ago. The government House leader wouldn’t even let the minister answer.

Maybe the minister will answer this: Before Mr. Bucci became CEO of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, or since, did the minister or any other government official share information with Mr. Bucci, information not available to the general public, that could be used by a member of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association to further their private interests?

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: I know that the members opposite will do anything—they’re like a leak, right? You know when you have a leak in your house and you want to find out where the leak is before it does too much damage, right? Of course, the people of Ontario know what happens if you don’t find that leak. By consequence, we didn’t find it in 1990 to 1995 and the NDP almost bankrupted the province.

But more importantly, Mr. Speaker, we have a situation in the province of Ontario where we are in a housing crisis. The NDP are going to do and say everything they possibly can to stop hundreds of thousands and millions of Ontarians from having the same dream that millions have. Put your hand up in this caucus or over there if you’re a first-generation or if your parents came here. Look at the hands that are going up.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll ask the government House leader to make his comments through the Chair.

Hon. Paul Calandra: And the number one dream—

Interjections.

Hon. Paul Calandra: They hate it. They hate it because the number one dream of millions and millions of people who built this province, who built this country, was to have a better life for their family.

When my parents came here impoverished from Italy, they came here to have a better life for their kids. And the number one dream is the value of a home. They got it and look where they—

Interjections.

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

Start the clock. The supplementary question.

Mr. Jeff Burch: So the government House leader doesn’t want to answer the question.

On September 15, just two months before the minister announced plans to remove certain properties from the greenbelt, one of these properties sold to a company controlled by developer and PC donor Michael Rice. The real estate listing advertised the property as a “prime land banking opportunity,” as if expecting the value of this greenbelt land to rise.

The seller was the developer Schickedanz Bros., who sold the property for nearly nine times what they paid for it in 2000. Speaker, Bob Schickedanz was president of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association on September 15, at the same time Luca Bucci was CEO of the Home Builders’ Association.

Did the minister or any other government official share information with Mr. Bucci that could be used by the buyer or seller of the Schickedanz property to further their private interests, yes or no?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Obviously, the minister has already said no. The minister has said that he will work with the Integrity Commissioner.

But more importantly, what you’re seeing day in and day out, colleagues, is the NDP who refuse to acknowledge that in the province of Ontario there is a housing crisis. That housing crisis was created by policies that they helped support.

We know that in the province of Ontario we want to continue to welcome people from all over the world to help us build a better and more prosperous Ontario, just like my parents did. When my parents came in the late 1950s and early 1960s, all of them, the brothers and their sisters—six of them lived in one house. Some lived upstairs; some lived in the basement. And one by one they managed to have the dream of a brand new home right here in the province of Ontario. That was the dream when they came. They wanted their kids to have a better future than they had. That’s why millions of people came here, struggled, and helped build the province of Ontario.

They want to take that dream away from people. This Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said no. That is a dream that countless generations had—

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

Skilled trades

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Last Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting with the ironworkers of Local 765, along with the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Local 765 is located in the great community of Metcalfe, in my riding of Carleton. I saw the amazing work Ontario’s skilled tradespeople do to keep our province’s economic engine running.

Unfortunately, Ontario is facing a labour shortage. In Ottawa alone, there are more than 42,000 vacant positions. The skilled trades are no exception, and opportunities abound for people looking for a job in this sector.

My question is for the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development: What is our government doing to bring more people into the skilled trades? Thank you.

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I want to thank the member for Carleton for that question and for an amazing day that we had in her riding on Friday.

We need all hands on deck to get more people in the skilled trades and to build those 1.5 million homes by 2031, to welcome all of those new Canadians that are going to be coming to Ontario. That’s why we are investing a record $1.5 billion over the next four years to teach anyone who is eager to work in the trades the skills they need for these life-changing careers.

The Ironworkers Local 765 in Ottawa and right across Ontario are constructing, installing and erecting the iron that our major infrastructure projects depend on. Simply put, we depend on them to keep Ontario standing tall. They are everyday heroes and we need more people like them to continue building Ontario.

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

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Thank you to the minister for that answer. I am pleased to hear that our government is making the necessary investments to help grow Ontario’s economy through its skilled trades strategy. With one in three tradespeople over the age of 55, it’s critical that our government fill the oncoming vacancies from retirement by training the next generation of skilled trades workers.

My question is once again to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development: What is our government doing to market the skilled trades to young people?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: Again, thank you to the member for Carleton. To fix Ontario’s skilled trades shortage, we need to show more students that these are rewarding, well-paying and in-demand careers. That’s why, for the first time in Ontario’s history, we hosted five skilled trades career fairs this fall, with more than 20,000 students and parents attending. Working with our union partners, employers and colleges, students got hands-on experience with a variety of trades and the chance to hear directly from tradespeople about the work that they do.

To tackle the shortage in the skilled trades, we must promote these amazing careers to our young people. They are the next generation and we need them to build a stronger Ontario for all of us.

Emergency preparedness

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Good morning, Speaker. Remarks in Oji-Cree.

My question is to the Premier. Highway 105 was washed out, separating Red Lake and Ear Falls from the rest of Ontario, and Sioux Lookout experienced flooding during the spring. Kiiwetinoong experienced unprecedented flooding. Sioux Lookout experienced flooding that damaged over 30 homes and businesses, including two hotels.

Last week, the Auditor General said Ontario is not doing enough to help municipalities with this planning. Mr. Speaker, they need assistance. What is Ontario doing to help communities in the north to mitigate future flooding?

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: Well, it’s an important question, given how important the north is to the province of Ontario. We’ve said that right from the beginning.

There is a tremendous amount of resources that have been put not only into northern communities but across the province of Ontario to ensure that we are prepared to meet the challenges of natural disasters, both in southern and northern Ontario, in urban and rural communities. That means working very closely with our municipalities, who have expertise on the ground.

The important thing, when we talk about the north, is that we have to create those partnerships, because it is so important. That’s why we are bringing, of course, more roads and transportation networks to northern Ontario. I know the Minister of Mines has been working very hard with First Nations partners and with our mining partners to ensure that we can unleash the power of the north. I know the Minister of Energy last week just talked about how we finally were able to get hydroelectricity to some parts of northern Ontario—I know the honourable gentleman was there as well—finally taking them off diesel generators.

Look, the north is an important part of the economic prosperity to the province of Ontario, as he talked about, and that’s why we’re working so closely with our partners to mitigate that.

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

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: There are floods and fires that keep happening in the north, and we need to be able to have good plans for First Nations and northern municipalities to protect towns and also the First Nations. Every year, communities in Kiiwetinoong evacuate because of forest fires that threaten everything. The Auditor General found that it took up to 11 hours to coordinate a response. That is unacceptable.

Ontario can do more to prepare and manage emergency responses to these annual forest fires. What is Ontario doing to improve forest fire responsiveness and planning for First Nations and communities in the north?

Hon. Paul Calandra: It’s an important question, again, from the member opposite. I know the Minister of Natural Resources, of course, has been working with his cabinet colleagues the Minister of Northern Development as well as the Minister of Mines and the member for Sault Ste. Marie to ensure our northern parts of the province are well serviced. In particular, we’ve seen a number of forest fire seasons that were very, very challenging.

Now, of course, the member knows that we have invested to ensure that our fleets of water bombers and fire equipment are available for the north, but we’re also doing it in partnership not only with other municipalities but with our partners both in Quebec and Manitoba. We all face very similar challenges. That’s why we have been working so closely with partners across the board.

But Ontario has made those investments. There are certainly more investments to make as we continue to see growth in northern Ontario—look, simple growth that had not existed with any other government because everybody else seemed to ignore northern Ontario. We understand how important it is to the economic vitality of the province of Ontario, and we’ll continue to make those important investments.

Entrepreneuriat francophone

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Ma question s’adresse à la ministre des Affaires francophones. Dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre de sa Stratégie de développement économique francophone, notre gouvernement a récemment annoncé qu’il financera quatre projets représentant une somme combinée de 500 000 $ pour soutenir l’entrepreneuriat francophone.

Monsieur le Président, la ministre peut-elle nous en dire plus sur la façon dont le gouvernement élargit le soutien aux entreprises francophones?

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Je remercie ma collègue pour son excellente question. La francophonie ontarienne est un atout économique pour la province. C’est pourquoi nous élargissons la gamme de services aux jeunes entreprises francophones dans le cadre de notre investissement de 1,5 million de dollars sur trois ans pour soutenir la croissance des entrepreneurs et des entreprises francophones ici en Ontario.

Le ministère des Affaires francophones finance des initiatives qui offriront aux entrepreneurs francophones du soutien et des conseils pour les aider à naviguer dans les différentes phases du développement d’entreprise. La Stratégie de développement économique francophone de notre gouvernement vise à accroître l’empreinte économique francophone, à renforcer la main-d’oeuvre francophone, à stimuler la création d’emplois et aussi à faciliter le développement de nouveaux marchés pour les entreprises francophones et bilingues de l’Ontario.

Je suis très fière du travail que nous faisons pour appuyer les communautés francophones de l’Ontario à travers notre travail sur le développement économique francophone.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Merci à la ministre pour cette réponse. Je suis tellement heureuse d’entendre parler d’initiatives qui encouragent les nouvelles entreprises pendant leur période de démarrage. La communauté d’entrepreneurs francophones de l’Ontario continue de croître chaque jour. C’est pourquoi notre gouvernement doit s’assurer de soutenir l’entrepreneuriat francophone partout dans la province dans le cadre de notre plan pour bâtir l’Ontario.

La ministre peut-elle nous en dire plus sur les projets retenus cette année et sur le soutien que notre gouvernement leur apporte dans le cadre de cet investissement?

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Les entrepreneurs francophones de l’Ontario représentent près de 30 000 entreprises et cela représente 50 % des entreprises francophones hors Québec. Les projets retenus proposent des approches innovantes pour encadrer les entreprises en phase d’incubation, et aussi serviront à accompagner les entrepreneurs francophones, favorisant ainsi le démarrage de leurs entreprises.

Cet investissement renforcera un écosystème en plein développement et mettra en valeur le savoir-faire de la francophonie économique ici en Ontario. Les services d’appui aux jeunes entreprises offerts par des organismes tels que le Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario, La Cité collégiale et aussi l’Association francophone à l’éducation des services à l’enfance de l’Ontario—tous ces trois organismes, qui contribuent à assurer la prospérité de nos communautés francophones en Ontario.

Health care workers

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: My question is to the Premier. Over the past half decade under your watch, my community and its hospitals in Niagara have struggled to keep pace with our health care needs. Policies like Bill 124 have contributed to a nursing and staff crisis month over month. Over the summer, Niagara Health had over 608 staff vacancies. I know that number has grown now. Even worse, those vacancies have more than doubled since November 2019, the month that your health care morale-killing policy, Bill 124, received royal assent.

The courts overturned Bill 124, Premier.

Premier, will you do the right thing and recognize your policies have worsened our health care staffing crisis?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Colleges and Universities.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you to the member for the question. In fact, we’ve increased the number of medical seats at Brock University. I hope you’ve had the opportunity to tour the university and see the amazing things that are happening at Brock University.

Mr. Speaker, in fact, this fall we saw a record number of applications at Ontario’s colleges and universities in the province: 25,000 students were applying for nursing programs at Ontario’s colleges and universities—world-class post-secondary education. We are seeing record numbers of students looking to join the profession, and we’ve already seen that the Council of Ontario Universities says that more than 13,000 students applied to university nursing programs this past year.

We’ve also seen changes to the Ministry of Health through the Ontario college of nurses, where we’ve seen a record number of 14,000 registered nurses this season.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s lots more to come.

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

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: You can cherry-pick your record on health care; however, any way you slice it, it is still getting worse.

I used to work in health care, and, let me tell you, you are not tricking the nurses on the front line. You are not tricking the seniors and parents that have to wait endlessly—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask the member to make her comments through the Chair. Continue with your question.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Thank you, Speaker.

We see the receipts. We see the results, and the results are the results.

Premier, why do you still plan to appeal Bill 124 when it is clear your health care policies over the last half decade have led to a worsening of the staffing crisis in Niagara and straight across Ontario?

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

The member for Niagara West to reply.

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: Thanks to the member opposite for the question. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to some of the information that is not accurate in the member opposite’s statement.

We know the importance of ensuring that investments continue, the types of investments that we’ve seen, including in three new hospitals in the Niagara region: the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, the new Niagara south hospital and the Hotel Dieu Shaver hospital. We’ve seen two new palliative care expansions, 20 new palliative care beds being brought into our area. We’ve seen a new nursing program launch at Niagara College, as well as an expanded nursing program doubling the amount of nursing graduates from Brock University.

These are the types of investments that, under the leadership of Premier Ford and this team, we are making in Niagara to ensure that each and every patient in our region has access to the world-class care that they deserve. The opposition had years to make that happen with the Liberals and they didn’t—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Please start the clock. The next question.

Land use planning

Mr. Mike Schreiner: My question is for the Premier. Thousands of people in communities across Ontario attended rallies this weekend calling on the Premier to keep his promise not to touch the greenbelt. My favourite chant was, “No to housing in the greenbelt, yes to housing in my backyard.”

The government’s own Housing Affordability Task Force said there is no need to develop the greenbelt. There is plenty of land already approved for development to build the homes that people need. The Premier himself has said, “I’ve heard it loud and clear” that “people don’t want me touching the greenbelt. We won’t touch the greenbelt.”

Speaker, the people are speaking out loud and clear right now. So the question is, will the Premier listen to the people who don’t want him to touch the greenbelt, or will he listen to land speculators who want to pave over the people’s greenbelt?

Interjection.

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

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to reply.

Hon. Steve Clark: So, here’s what we know, Speaker: Our per capita housing supply lags behind our G7 and our Canadian peers, who we compete with for jobs and investment. Today, our province is nearly 1.3 million homes, rented or owned, short of that G7 average. That’s why we’re in the middle of a housing crisis.

The University of Ottawa-based smart prosperity centre found that Ontario’s pre-existing shortage is already 471,000 homes in 2021. We need over an additional million homes just to get to that average of other G7 countries and our Canadian peers. And then, as has been noted this morning, we already know that we’re going to have an influx of new immigration who we want to welcome to our province—probably 60% of that half a million new Canadians are going to come here. That’s why we’re putting forward policies, procedures, bills, regulations to get shovels in the ground.

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

Mr. Mike Schreiner: There is one thing I will agree with the minister on: The housing crisis has gotten worse under this government’s watch. But let’s be honest with people. Breaking the Premier’s greenbelt promise will not solve the housing affordability crisis. This government’s own housing task force says that. Housing experts and activists say that. We know that developing the greenbelt will help a handful of wealthy land speculators turn millions into billions, and the rest of us are going to pay the price: longer, more expensive commutes; flood threats to our lives, livelihoods and property; higher property taxes; and threats to our food security and farming economy.

If we want to solve the housing crisis, let’s end exclusionary zoning and build affordable homes where people want to live, in the communities they want to live in and close to where they work. The question is, will the Premier put people before speculators and repeal Bill 23?

Hon. Steve Clark: It’s pretty rich coming from the member for Guelph. Guelph city council, if you can believe this, Speaker, voted against student housing on land that’s owned by the University of Guelph—unbelievable. So again, Speaker, millennials in Ontario have to save for over 20 years to get a down payment on a home. The lack of affordability in the greater Golden Horseshoe is even steeper.

I am not going to stand here like the member for Guelph, the leader of the Green Party, and defend the status quo. He opposes building homes, he opposes getting things done and he opposes the realization of the dream of home ownership for a generation of Ontarians.

Environmental protection

Mr. Robert Bailey: This question is to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. There is a growing interest in geological carbon capture and storage to safely store carbon dioxide in deep bedrock formations. Storing carbon dioxide deep underground is one way of reducing the impact of greenhouse gases from high-emitting sources like heavy industrial activity.

In response to evolving energy needs and priorities, Ontario’s businesses have been interested in pursuing new underground storage opportunities. According to a discussion paper posted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, there is a potential for enabling carbon storage in Ontario. Several areas throughout our province might have the right mix of geological conditions for storage capabilities.

Speaker, can the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry please elaborate further on carbon storage technology and its environmental and economical benefits?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Red Tape Reduction.

Hon. Parm Gill: I want to thank my colleague the member for Sarnia–Lambton for that important question and for his hard work on behalf of his constituents.

Carbon storage is a technology that involves injecting carbon dioxide into deep underground rock formations for permanent storage. You take the carbon dioxide emitted from power plants, steel mills or any other industrial process that you can think of and capture it. Instead of having the carbon dioxide released into the air, this process ensures that it never gets a chance to be released in the air.

The strategy is allowing us to develop a self-sustaining sector in Ontario, create local jobs and attract investments, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I think all of us in this House, whether you’re on this side or that side, agree that we need to do our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment.

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

Mr. Robert Bailey: Thank you to the minister for that answer. In fact, Sarnia–Lambton has got the right geological formations for that kind of carbon capture and storage, so I’m very interested in it.

Exploring the implementation of carbon storage is certainly a significant step in helping to reduce Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions and in producing low-carbon hydrogen. Along with environmental benefits that can be achieved, this technology also provides opportunities to increase Ontario’s competitiveness and supports job creation. Ontarians are counting on our government to implement measures that will help support economic growth and productivity, while ensuring environmental protection.

Speaker, can the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry please elaborate on what action this government is taking to enable underground geological storage of carbon as we move forward?

Hon. Parm Gill: I want to thank my colleague for that important question once again. Just last Wednesday, as part of the Less Red Tape, Stronger Ontario Act, 2022, we proposed an amendment to the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act to remove the restrictions related to carbon storage in our province. This initial step signals to the industry that our government is serious in our intention to support geologic carbon storage and that we are taking a phased and thoughtful approach to regulate the activity. We know that carbon storage is new to Ontario and we want to ensure the activity is undertaken responsibly, with measures in place that make sure it is done in a way that is safe and effective.

This ambitious plan that we have announced as part of the Less Red Tape, Stronger Ontario Act will help our efforts to reduce Ontario’s emissions and cut red tape for businesses and industry, while safeguarding the people of Ontario and our environment.

Public transit

MPP Jill Andrew: My question is to the Premier. Last week, the Auditor General reported that the P3 contracts used to build Ottawa’s LRT resulted in more problems and less accountability. The same companies contracted in Ottawa through these shady P3s are responsible for the expensive Eglinton Crosstown P3 mess that has frustrated my community in St. Paul’s for over a decade. My community needs accountability from this government more than ever. They need assurance that the Ottawa LRT fiasco won’t repeat itself on Eglinton.

My question is to the Premier: Why are the Premier, the minister and Metrolinx choosing to conceal, instead of answer to the public—the people paying for the actual project—how long this latest Eglinton LRT delay really is going to be?

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

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: I thank the member opposite for the question. Speaker, the delays that are plaguing the Eglinton Crosstown LRT are frustrating for everyone, for people living along the line and for businesses that are there. As the member opposite knows, we inherited this project from the previous Liberal government, which mismanaged the project from the start. Right now, Speaker, our focus is on making sure that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is safely operational as soon as possible.

Let’s be clear, we are continuing to make progress on our priority projects for the GTA: the new Ontario Line and the three extensions. But to get those projects built in a different way, we passed the Building Transit Faster Act,

an act that’s designed to address a lot of the issues that the member opposite is raising. Mr. Speaker, that member and the party opposite voted against the Building Transit Faster Act. They voted against getting shovels in the ground and getting transit built faster. I think the question that should be asked in this House is why they voted against such an important piece of legislation to get transit built faster.

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

MPP Jill Andrew: The Ontario Line is 75% over budget. That’s why we said no.

Accountability isn’t all we need. For 10 years, small businesses in midtown and Little Jamaica have been devastated by the LRT’s construction, with more businesses shutting down for good than I can count. Small businesses are a community. The latest LRT delay, pushing the open date to late 2023 at the earliest, will be the last straw.

While many of our small businesses didn’t get help during the pandemic, this Premier gave nearly $1 billion—$1 billion—to corporations and businesses that didn’t need it or didn’t qualify. Some of them weren’t even in Ontario, Speaker.

My question is back to the Premier. Will you be providing substantial financial support for our small businesses so that they can weather this storm that this government has created?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Our government does not believe that these kinds of delays are acceptable. That’s exactly why we passed the Building Transit Faster Act. I can’t understand why the members opposite voted against such an important piece of legislation that will make sure that future transit is built more quickly and is built better than the way the Liberals had planned.

Mr. Speaker, let’s be clear: We have been there for businesses along the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. We have provided supports for those businesses that have been impacted by construction. Metrolinx has been collaborating not only with the city of Toronto but also with local BIAs to establish a joint committee that’s responsible for determining where these funds should go.

Mr. Speaker, we know that this has been a difficult go for the people along the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. That’s why we’re so determined to do it differently.

Homelessness

Ms. Christine Hogarth: Speaker, homelessness is an extremely important and complex issue that impacts Ontarians. Last week, I was speaking with Jasmin from LAMP Community Health Centre in my riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore. We discussed the challenges that are faced by individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and how they become all the more heightened during the winter months.

While it is essential that assistance and programs are available to meet urgent needs, there must also be new solutions and coordination of services to support Ontario’s most vulnerable people. Across this province, there are many individuals and families whose physical, mental and social well-being are at risk because they need access to resources and local supports.

Speaker, can the Associate Minister of Housing please explain what our government is doing to provide vulnerable Ontarians with the support they need?

Hon. Michael Parsa: I want to thank my honourable colleague for this very important question and for all the great work she does in her community.

Speaker, I want to point out that Ontario, under this government, is the primary funder of all homelessness programs, with 86% of the funding coming directly from the province. Earlier this year, we developed a new Homelessness Prevention Program to simplify and streamline operations to allow service managers to help more people find a home and spend less time on paperwork. We also increased this program by $25 million this year, bringing the total close to half a billion dollars annually.

Speaker, I recently visited Scott Mission here in Toronto and the Ottawa Mission before heading north to visit Urban Abbey and Grace Place in Thunder Bay to see first-hand the great work that’s being done to support those who are facing housing challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll say it again: We will continue to be there and we will work with all partners to make sure we don’t leave any Ontarian behind.

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

Ms. Christine Hogarth: I just want to thank the minister for that answer. It is extremely important. During the winter months, the weather in many regions, as we all know, can drop to extremely cold temperatures and this creates conditions that can adversely impact the health and well-being of those in need of shelter. Individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness have a much higher risk of developing hypothermia or frostbite than the general population during cold winter seasons.

Our government must provide assistance to individuals whose health and safety might be at risk because of the cold. Can the Associate Minister of Housing provide details about support systems and programs available to those needing shelter?

Hon. Michael Parsa: Thanks again to my colleague for the follow-up question. Speaker, through you to my colleague, rest assured that we’ll continue to be there for anyone in Ontario who needs support, and we’ll continue to work with our municipal partners and our federal partners as well to do more so that we can continue to address homelessness in Ontario.

Speaker, I would like to point out that a few municipalities across our province have opened up warming centres for those who are looking for a place to stay, and we need to continue to work together to be there for all those in need of support. I encourage Ontarians who need more information, or assistance, to dial 311.

Speaker, this government will simply not leave anyone behind. We’ll continue to work with our partners, like the Salvation Army, amongst others, to ensure that every Ontarian has a warm and safe place this winter season.

Municipal government

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Last Thursday, we heard from 18 witnesses about Bill 39. Fourteen of those 18 witnesses spoke against the bill. They represent the overwhelming public outcry