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

May 5, 2025

44th Parliament, 1st Session

< Previous sitting day

Next sitting day >

Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2025-May-05 (PDF)

L008 - Mon 5 May 2025 / Lun 5 mai 2025

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 5 May 2025 Lundi 5 mai 2025

Members’ Statements

100 Women Who Care 1000 Islands

Tenant protection

Riding of Kingston and the Islands

Ontario Trillium Foundation grants

Battle of the Atlantic Day

Vision Health Month

Red Dress Day

Government investments

Volunteers

Introduction of Visitors

Member’s comments

Question Period

Automotive industry

Northern economy

Taxation

Energy rates

Automotive industry

Taxation

Nuclear energy

Special-needs students

Taxation

Transportation infrastructure

Public transit

Taxation

Ontario economy

Ontario economy

Public health

Visitor

Introduction of Visitors

Introduction of Government Bills

More Convenient Care Act, 2025 / Loi de 2025 pour plus de soins commodes

Petitions

Mental health services

University funding

Anti-racism activities

Veterans

Taxation

Alzheimer’s disease

Taxation

Emergency services

Land use planning

Health care funding

Soins de santé

Front-line workers

Opposition Day

Taxation

Orders of the Day

Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 / Loi de 2025 pour protéger l’Ontario en libérant son économie

Débat sur le discours du trône / Throne speech debate

The House met at 1015.

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

Prayers.

Members’ Statements

100 Women Who Care 1000 Islands

Mr. Steve Clark: I rise to celebrate a remarkable group of women who continue to make a tremendous difference in the lives of so many in our community: 100 Women Who Care 1000 Islands marks its 10th anniversary at their meeting next week. In that decade, this group of amazing women have raised more than $400,000 for charitable organizations in every corner of Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. It’s a testament to the true power of collective action: Women from all walks of life coming together with a single purpose—to accomplish something greater together than they would do individually.

They commit to provide $100 each at four meetings every year, and at every meeting, a vote determines which charity will receive $10,000 to support and enhance life-changing work in our community. That’s zero overhead. Every penny raised goes directly to the organization in need.

Over the past 10 years, nearly 40 organizations have benefited through this outstanding demonstration of philanthropy. These funds have strengthened our community and made it more resilient by supporting a number of charities—mental health, food security, social inclusion, seniors and youth programs.

So as 100 Women Who Care 1000 Islands celebrates 10 years, I join our community in saying thank you to all those involved. Your vision and generosity have set a gold standard for community leadership.

Tenant protection

Ms. Chandra Pasma: For those who face unfair eviction, it’s not just the loss of a home, it’s also the shock of being uprooted without warning and the fear of not being able to afford another place. In my riding of Ottawa West–Nepean, this is an ongoing issue, with landlords evicting tenants under the guise of making significant renovations, only to relist the units at much higher rents. This practice is making our province’s affordable housing crisis much worse.

I’ve been proud to support the work that ACORN has done in my community to help mobilize affected tenants. They’ve been urging the Ontario government to put into force legislation that this House has passed that will put in place stronger protections for tenants and close legal loopholes that landlords use to displace long-term residents.

In January, Ottawa city council voted to push the Ontario government to actually implement the tenant protections that were included in Bill 97. The city gave the province three months to enact these measures. Last week, that deadline came and went with no action taken. What is the government waiting for, Speaker? We’re talking about people’s lives here. They deserve action.

I want to express my heartfelt support for everyone in Ottawa West–Nepean who is affected by this issue, and I urge all members in this House to remember that the power to stop bad-faith evictions ultimately rests with us.

Riding of Kingston and the Islands

Mr. Ted Hsu: Speaker, democracy thrives when citizens participate actively. Today, I rise to thank Kingston and the Islands for achieving voter turnout well above the provincial average in the provincial election.

I particularly want to recognize students, many of whom lined up patiently to vote. The line was 80 people long at 5:30 p.m. at a polling station near my home. I want this Legislature to be inspired by their determination to vote. These young Ontarians deserve more than our applause, they deserve action.

In March, students at Queen’s University spoke through a campus plebiscite. Now, I want to make sure that this government hears, through me, that they ask the Ontario government for action on the following:

“—housing insecurity;

“—tuition, ancillary fees and financial aid;

“—food insecurity;

“—housing, transit and community development.”

Students aren’t asking for luxuries; they’re asking for stability so they can focus on their education instead of worrying about the basics. As the Premier finalizes this year’s budget, I want him to listen to these voices.

To the students and youth across Ontario: When the budget is released in about 10 days, speak up again. Hold us accountable. Your involvement strengthens our democracy and shapes your future.

Ontario Trillium Foundation grants

Mr. Lorne Coe: Our government believes local programs and services enrich the lives of hard-working families and play an important role in building a strong community and prosperous economy. That is why we’re proud to fund local program and service providers through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Grow grants stream.

I recently announced two grants in Ajax to two pillars of the Ajax community. Durham Youth Services will be receiving $429,800 and Black Queens of Durham region, $152,300. These grants are due to the long-time advocacy of our friend and colleague Patrice Barnes.

One of the recipients of the money, Shannon Jackson, the executive director of Durham Youth Services, had this to say: “By intervening early in a young person’s experience of homelessness, we were able to find safe and stable housing for 92% of the youth we met through this program. The generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation Grow grant will allow us to grow and expand this highly effective program over the next three years, to support more youth in more schools across the region of Durham.”

Every young person deserves a safe place to call home, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation is making it happen thanks to the leadership of the Honourable Stan Cho.

Battle of the Atlantic Day

Ms. Peggy Sattler: The first Sunday in May recognizes Battle of the Atlantic Day, honouring the lives lost during the longest continuous battle of World War II. As MPP for London West, I had the privilege of participating in a moving and extraordinary ceremony in London. Not only did we mark the 80th anniversary of that historic battle, but new walls of honour were unveiled, recognizing the sacrifices of every young Canadian who gave their life over the battle’s 2,075 days.

Since 2010, a national Battle of the Atlantic memorial has stood on the hillside of HMCS Prevost at the forks of London’s Thames River, with commemorative stones to honour each warship lost, as well as the service and sacrifice of the merchant navy.

On Sunday, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated team of volunteers, diligent naval historians and many generous donors, the monument was rededicated with beautiful and solemn walls of honour. The walls are inscribed with the individual names of the thousands of brave and valiant sailors, merchant mariners and air force members who fought and died in the Battle of the Atlantic, creating Canada’s only national tribute to these fallen service men and women together in one place.

On Saturday, a Battle of the Atlantic gala was held, graced by the presence of Her Honour Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont and commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee. I thank them both for joining Londoners to mark such a special and meaningful occasion.

Vision Health Month

Mr. Deepak Anand: Across Canada, 1.5 million people live with vision loss. In Ontario alone, that number exceeds 680,000. May is Vision Health Month, a powerful reminder of how closely our sight is tied to well-being and especially the future of our children. Yet one in four school-aged children have a vision loss issue, often going undetected, impacting how they learn, grow and thrive.

Public-funded eye testing for all children reflects our government’s commitment to early detection and care. Despite OHIP covering eye exams until the age of 19, not all children have their eyes tested before starting school. Vision care is not just a health issue; it is about equity, education and access. No child should struggle to see the board or read a book, especially when help is available. Thanks to the advocacy of Dr. Asha Seth for leading the effort to designate May as Vision Health Month, and partners like CNIB to champion early screening and awareness, reminding us that real progress starts with prevention, not just treatment.

To every parent and caregiver in Mississauga–Malton and across Ontario: Get your child’s eyes tested. It is free, it is simple and it can change a life. Let’s give every child clear vision and the opportunity to succeed. Let’s build a better, stronger Ontario.

Red Dress Day

Ms. Sandy Shaw: Speaker, today on May 5 we mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People, also known as Red Dress Day. On this day, we come together to stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples across the country. The pain of losing a loved one to violence is something that no one should endure, but, unfortunately, for Indigenous communities, this pain is all too common. In Ontario, the proportion of femicide victims who are Indigenous has steadily increased since the national inquiry in 2019.

This violence is rooted in the painful legacy of colonization and ongoing systemic injustice, and this is a crisis that demands action. The provincial government has a crucial role to play in fixing this crisis, beginning with an acknowledgement that human and Indigenous rights violations are at the root of violence against First Nations, Inuit and Métis women, girls and two-spirit peoples. We must listen, and we must respect Indigenous voices and their leadership. They are the experts in this crisis.

Today we wear red. Communities across Ontario—like in my hometown of Hamilton—will gather. They will remember, they will speak the names and they will demand justice and action.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): If I could just ask everyone to be mindful that we are still in members’ statements and bring the conversations down just a little, please.

Members’ statements?

Government investments

MPP Bill Rosenberg: As we kick off Emergency Preparedness Week in Ontario, I rise today to highlight a key investment our government has made in my riding of Algoma–Manitoulin. Last year, the corporation of the town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands received $50,000 through our government’s Community Emergency Preparedness Grant—a grant which is now part of the newly minted Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Speaker, with this grant money, the township was able to purchase new machinery and maintenance equipment to support the region’s brush-clearing and fire maintenance efforts. This grant, part of our government’s historic investment of $110 million into the emergency preparedness sector, is a great achievement for the people of my riding. I want to thank the minister and the Premier for ensuring all the communities like mine have access to the supports they need to protect Ontario from any emergency we may face.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Again, if I could just ask everyone to be mindful: There are people making members’ statements in the House, if you could just bring your conversation level down a little. Thank you.

I recognize the member for Oxford.

Volunteers

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. It’s great to see you in the chair, and it’s an honour to be in this House once more representing the people of Oxford.

This past week was National Volunteer Week, and my office has received dozens of requests for certificates acknowledging volunteerism in our communities. It’s great to see the spotlight this week shine on the work volunteers do, but we should also be thankful for how they step up for one another all year long. That’s why I wanted to highlight one group of volunteers that has truly made a difference in peoples’ lives in Oxford.

For over 50 years, the members of Woodingford Lodge women’s auxiliary have poured their time, energy and compassion into supporting the residents of the long-term-care home. They would keep the residents company, chat with them over tea, host events and generally make them feel cared for. They’ve also donated a grand piano to the home, helped maintain the fish tank and made lap blankets for residents, just to name a few things.

Recently, I was part of the final cheque presentation by the group. I’m sorry to see it come to an end, but I’m thankful for all the lives they have enriched over the years. It’s volunteers like these—people helping people, Madam Speaker—that remind us that they don’t do it for the spotlight; they do it because it’s the right thing to do.

Introduction of Visitors

Hon. Kevin Holland: I would like to give a warm welcome to Marc Blais and Linda Bruins, who are visiting us here today from Thunder Bay. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Catherine Fife: I am so pleased to welcome some great citizens from Waterloo, the Passion for Fashion group: Stephanie Ratza, Victoria Garash, Kelly Groff, Cathy Brown, Nancy Koebel and Louise Kaiser. Welcome to Queen’s Park, and I look forward to having lunch.

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: I wish to welcome to the House today Laura Elliott and Leo Plue, a wonderful husband and wife team, originally from Durham region—strong, respected educators over many decades and also active champions of the Abilities Centre in Durham.

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to welcome Michael Reid, Judith Jackson, Kathleen Corcoran, Rachel Hubert and Steven Soliman. They are all workers in long-term care, retirement residences and home care. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

MPP Chris Scott: It’s my absolute honour to rise and greet my number one supporter, my wife, and my two daughters and son who are here today. I think they actually just stepped out—which is kind of embarrassing—because it’s the baby’s nap time, but I’m really pleased to get to stand and introduce them.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: I want to welcome three constituents of mine from St. Catharines and members of the CLAC to the House this morning: Mandeep Thakur, Shawn Kelly and Stephanie Hollender. Welcome to Queen’s Park and welcome to your House. Thank you for being here today.

Mr. John Fraser: I’d like to welcome the members of CLAC who are with us in the House today. They’ll be having a lunchtime reception in 228 at 2:30, and I encourage all members to go.

Hon. Sam Oosterhoff: I’d like to also introduce three members of CLAC who are here today, constituents Pam Mulder, Rachel Hubert and Samantha Gratton. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

MPP Alexa Gilmour: I am pleased to welcome the 2025 cohort of the Ontario Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Summer Youth Program. We have Kalsang Yangchen, who is placed with the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore. We have Tenzin Choenyi, who is placed with our member from York South–Weston, and finally Tenzin Kunsang Tsarong, placed in my office. I also want to thank all the members who are participating in this invaluable opportunity.

My second group of guests is Ward 7 school trustee Debbie King, parents and advocates Anna Dobie, Nadia Rajaram, and Tyler Rooney. Welcome to the Legislature.

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: I welcome Jessie and John Knight, proud parents of today’s page captain Shepherd Knight. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. David Piccini: I just want to build on my colleagues’ comments. I see Ian DeWaard, provincial director for CLAC here today—such a valued partner of the provincial government in building a stronger Ontario. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

MPP Lisa Gretzky: It is my pleasure to welcome Joyce Zuk, the executive director of Family Services Windsor-Essex to Queen’s Park. Also, Zoya Villamizar is starting as a page today. Zoya comes from a family full of peace and education advocates and activists, and I am honoured to welcome Zoya to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Deepak Anand: I’d like to introduce Keya Osborne, director of disability justice at CNIB, to Queen’s Park. Welcome.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: It’s my pleasure to welcome my friend Dana McKiel to the Legislature. Dana is son of the East York legend George McKiel. Welcome.

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Good morning, Madam Speaker. I’m very happy to acknowledge in our House Arfa Khandaker from my riding of Scarborough North, who is serving as a page captain today and is representing her peers from White Haven public school. I’d also like to welcome Arfa’s proud parents in the members’ gallery today, Salim Khandaker and Wahida Akter, who are here in support.

Thank you to all pages, in particular Arfa. Thank you, Arfa.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Just a reminder that if you would like to introduce anyone, we do have introduction of visitors again at 1 o’clock.

This being the very first sitting Monday of the month, I am asking everyone to join in the singing of the Canadian national anthem, followed by the royal anthem. I would like to ask the Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries to lead us.

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

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

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): You may be seated.

Member’s comments

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): If I could have the attention of the House:

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the Minister of Infrastructure rose on a question of privilege relating to an exchange that had occurred during question period that morning. Although questions of privilege are more commonly raised in the House following the provision of written notice to the Speaker, because the matter had arisen directly from the proceedings, the minister was permitted to raise her question without written notice, in accordance with the standing order 23(c).

The leader of the third party and the government House leader also spoke to the question of privilege, and I subsequently received written submissions from the Minister of Infrastructure, the leader of the third party, the government House leader, and the official opposition House leader.

I have reviewed the Hansard from the proceedings of April 29, along with the written materials and the relevant parliamentary authorities, and I am now prepared to rule on this matter.

Given that this is the first question of privilege to be raised in the 44th Parliament, I will begin by explaining the concepts of privilege and contempt. Erskine May, the pre-eminent authority on Westminster parliamentary procedure, defines parliamentary privilege in the following terms at page 239 of its 25th edition:

“Parliamentary privilege is the sum of certain rights enjoyed by each House collectively as a constituent part of the High Court of Parliament; and by members of each House individually, without which they could not discharge their functions, and which exceed those possessed by other bodies or individuals. Some privileges rest solely on the law and custom of Parliament, while others have been defined by statute.”

Privileges fall into two categories. One category is made up of the privileges enjoyed by individual members, which include freedom of speech, exemption from jury duty and exemption from being subpoenaed to attend court as a witness. The other category comprises the collective privileges of the House, including the right to regulate internal affairs, the right to institute inquiries and the power to discipline.

It is important to distinguish breaches of privilege from the separate but related concept of contempt. The third edition of House of Commons Procedure and Practice explains the distinction in the following terms on pages 80 and 81: “Any disregard of or attack on the rights, powers and immunities of the House and its members, either by an outside person or body, or by a member of the House, is referred to as a ‘breach of privilege’ and is punishable by the House. There are, however, other affronts against the dignity and authority of Parliament which may not fall within one of the specifically defined privileges.

Thus, the House also claims the right to punish, as a contempt, any action which, though not a breach of a specific privilege: tends to obstruct or impede the House in the performance of its functions; obstructs or impedes any member or officer of the House in the discharge of their duties; or is an offence against the authority or dignity of the House, such as disobedience of its legitimate commands or libels upon itself, its members, or its officers.... In that sense, all breaches of privilege are contempts of the House, but not all contempts are necessarily breaches of privilege.”

There is agreement among the procedural authorities that a finding that a member deliberately misled or attempted to mislead the House can amount to a contempt. However, there is also agreement that the threshold for such a finding is quite high. The fifth edition of Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand provides the following explanation on page 719:

“There are three elements to be established when an allegation is made against a member regarding the member’s statement: the statement must, in fact, have been misleading; the member must have known that the statement was inaccurate at the time the statement was made; and the member must have intended to mislead the House....

“For a misleading of the House to be deliberate, there must be an indication of an intention to mislead. Remarks made off the cuff in debate can rarely fall into this category, nor can matters of which the member can be aware only in an official capacity.”

This standard has been affirmed on many occasions in our own House by my predecessors in this chair. As Speaker Carr ruled on June 17, 2002, at pages 101-102 of the Journals, in order for the Speaker to find a prima facie case of contempt on the basis of deliberately misleading the House, there must be “a proved finding of an overt attempt to intentionally mislead the Legislature. In the absence of an admission from the member accused of the conduct, or of tangible confirmation of the conduct independently proved, a Speaker must assume that no honourable member would engage in such behaviour or that, at most, inconsistent statements were the result of inadvertence or honest mistake.”

In reviewing the exchange between the Minister of Infrastructure and the member for Ottawa South, I am unable to find tangible confirmation that the member misled or intended to mislead the House. The member asked a series of oral questions, all answered by the minister, relating to the process by which the government awarded a contract for the redevelopment of Ontario Place. The minister has contended that the member’s characterization of the government’s process is at odds with the reported findings of the Auditor General and the Integrity Commissioner.

The member for Ottawa South, on the other hand, has submitted that his characterization of the process is, in fact, supported by the Auditor General’s report. As has been the case in this House many times before, this appears to me to amount to, at most, a disagreement between two honourable members.

This is essential to the effective functioning of this House and to the ability of all members to fulfill their parliamentary roles. If a member and a minister disagree in their

interpretations of government action or decision-making, or even in their

interpretation of the report of an officer of the assembly, question period provides an ideal opportunity to make those views known. It is not uncommon for honourable members and ministers from all sides of the House to draw different

interpretations of the officers’ reported findings, and even on occasion to disagree with them.

On a separate but related note, the minister also suggested that the behaviour of the member from Ottawa South amounted to misconduct, and the government House leader made reference to the members’ code of conduct on harassment. It is relevant to note that on October 4, 2018, the code of conduct was amended to make it clear that “the code shall not derogate from ... the parliamentary privileges of the assembly and its members.” The members’ code of conduct does not supersede the privileges that members enjoy, including freedom of speech.

Finally, in her written submission, the Minister of Infrastructure correctly noted that standing order 25 contains a number of rules regarding the orderliness of members’ language and remarks. I’d like to clarify for all members that the application of these rules of debate is distinct from the concepts of privilege and contempt that I have described in my ruling today.

As the Speaker, it is my role to ensure that the rules of debate are respected during all proceedings. Should any member wish to raise a point of order about language used during question period, the appropriate time to do so is immediately following question period on that very same day.

I thank the House for your attention.

Question Period

Automotive industry

Ms. Marit Stiles: Good morning, everyone. Speaker, Ontario’s own financial watchdog says that up to 100,000 jobs are set to vanish next year because of Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs. My question is to the Premier because, as we’ve seen, the Premier’s response so far has been, “Let’s see what happens.” Those were his exact words. Well, Premier, it is happening. On Friday, 750 jobs were cut at the GM plant in Oshawa.

To the Premier: Why did the Premier ignore the warnings, and does the Premier still think “let’s see what happens” is the right approach to this?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Bay of Quinte.

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: Thank you to the Leader of the Opposition for that question. It’s important to recognize that the unfortunate news from General Motors last week has been extremely tough on workers in Oshawa and their families. We continue to be in close contact with the company and with our labour partners, and throughout those discussions, GM has reaffirmed its commitment to the Oshawa plant, which will continue to build Ontario-made trucks for years to come. We are going to continue to do everything in our power to support a strong future for that facility and for its workers.

I would remind the member opposite that this is not a fight that we picked. President Trump’s unnecessary and unjustified tariffs are causing chaos and uncertainty across the global economy. In the face of this unprecedented threat, our government will continue to fight every single day to attract new investment, secure good-paying jobs, and support workers and their families.

We didn’t pick this fight, but we will win it, and our government will always prioritize the needs and protect the livelihoods of the people of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the leader of His Majesty’s official opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, just because you didn’t pick the fight doesn’t mean you don’t fight.

I already warned this government about the impact of those tariffs and those threats: cancelled shifts, layoffs, equipment that is right now being loaded up on trucks and sent to the United States, 750 jobs cut—yes, at GM in Oshawa, but that, I will remind everyone here, is also going to mean 1,500 supply chain jobs impacted, and thousands more in Windsor are coming. This is political. GM is appeasing Donald Trump and moving their operations out of Ontario.

Back to the Premier of this province: What assurances can he give to the families in Oshawa and Windsor who are scared of losing everything?

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: We are fully aware on this side of the House that we are facing a once-in-generation threat from south of our border. We are going to continue working with our industry and labour partners as they navigate these uncertain times, and we will continue to be a stable hand.

We have announced $11 billion in relief that will provide immediate support to the businesses and workers who need it most. At the same time, we’re taking necessary action to ensure that Ontario remains competitive on the global stage, and that we don’t just compete; we also win.

Our auto sector has been revitalized since we took office, with more than $46 billion in new investment. We aren’t going to throw in the towel on our auto sector like the previous Liberal government tried to do. We are going to do everything in our power to protect the progress that we have made and ensure more good-paying jobs are created right here in Ontario.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, workers in Windsor are putting their bodies on the line to stop equipment from being shipped south while this Premier won’t lift a finger.

The government has poured taxpayer dollars into those companies, those same companies that are packing up and heading south.

And since the election, what specific actions has this Premier actually taken to stop Ontario jobs from bleeding to the United States? Zero—zip. Is he finally going to stand with workers, or does he still think that it’s just enough to wait and see?

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: This government will continue to stand with businesses and workers, as we have done since 2018. I will remind the member opposite that since 2018, we’ve attracted over $75 billion in new investment: $46 billion in automotive, $6 billion in life sciences and tens of billions of dollars in tech investments.

We’ve also cut 550 pieces of red tape, lowering the cost of doing business in Ontario by $8 billion, which set the stage for those important investments which have created tens of thousands of jobs.

Our manufacturing sector now boasts over 840,000 jobs, twice as many as Texas or New York state. We know that we are building an economic powerhouse here in Ontario, and we will continue to do everything that we can to support workers and support businesses through these tough times.

Northern economy

Ms. Marit Stiles: It boggles the mind, Speaker; that’s the best they got. That’s the best they’ve got to give—750 people lost their jobs on Friday and this is the best response we can get from this government. That is shameful.

Meanwhile, Alstom workers in Thunder Bay are facing layoffs again as well. There is no work lined up. As the NDP member for Thunder Bay–Superior North has pointed out many times, the new Line 2 subway cars can be built right there in Thunder Bay by experienced Ontario workers.

I want to say, I saw that the minister finally got around to writing a letter. Well, congratulations. But to the Premier: Why did the government wait to advocate for local production and leave those workers in limbo?

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

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Thank you for that question. Madam Speaker, we have been leading the charge in Thunder Bay in supporting those hard workers every step of the way. In fact, I was there just a couple of months ago to announce another $500 million that we are investing to refurbish our Metrolinx bi-level trains, a contract that has gone to Thunder Bay to support those workers.

I have to add, Madam Speaker, that when we put that investment forward, those members voted against those jobs in Thunder Bay. When we put forward the Ontario new deal with the city of Toronto, a part of that was over $700 million for the Line 2 subway trains that are going to go to Thunder Bay. And guess what? Those members over there voted against that again. Day and day again, they vote against good-paying jobs in Ontario and in Thunder Bay. That’s a shame.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the leader of the official opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, again, back to the Premier of this province, because while this minister writes the occasional letter, Alstom workers are being laid off and Ontario is facing a recession. All this Premier has had to say about it is, “Let’s see what happens.”

Workers in Thunder Bay have been waiting years and years for a decision on the Line 2 subway cars, and now they’re facing layoffs on top of that. Let’s not forget why that happened, why they’re being laid off now. It’s because this government made the decision to send those jobs from Line 1 down to the United States while workers here lose out.

Is this the message of the Premier to the people and the workers of Thunder Bay and their families? Is it that they should just sit tight while others get those jobs and the orders go south?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: The message to those workers in Thunder Bay is that Premier Ford will always have your back. In fact, the Premier has personally visited that facility many times. Many members in this House and government members have visited that facility and reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring more jobs go to Thunder Bay. That is why we wrote a letter asking the TTC to direct that investment to Canadian, Ontario-made jobs in Thunder Bay. That is why we have invested over $500 million of refurbishment money into that facility. We will always support good-paying jobs.

Do you know what happens every time we do bring forward any sort of motions, any sort of budgets that support Thunder Bay? Those members over there vote against good-paying jobs in Thunder Bay. That’s a shame. When it comes to transit investments, like Line 2, like the Yonge North subway extension that will be supported by those 55 Line 2 cars, those members voted against—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Let’s review what happened here, shall we? This government ignored its own transit procurement policy, and they actually reduced the required Canadian content requirements for transit vehicles from 25% to 10%. That was this government when they signed the Ontario Line P3 contract. We remember, and the workers in Thunder Bay at Alstom will never forget.

The vehicles for every other subway line in Ontario have been made in Thunder Bay, but the Ontario Line subway cars are being made in the United States, right now, with Alstom announcing layoffs in Thunder Bay because they have a lack of work because of this government’s decisions and the United States waging this trade war against us here in Canada.

I want to ask the Premier of this province to stand up and tell us, does he regret his decision to allow the Ontario Line subway cars to be made in the United States instead of in Canada by Ontario workers?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: I want to ask the Leader of the Opposition: Do they regret voting against billions of dollars in investment into transit? Do they regret voting against billions of dollars in skills development funds that are going to support workers, welders and many of the others that are working on that facility in Thunder Bay and across the province?

The Leader of the Opposition should look very closely and see why unions have left them in droves and supported the PC Party and our government and our vision. It’s because we want to build. We want to build for the future. We’re investing $70 billion over the next 10 years, and many of those dollars are going to support plants in Thunder Bay, to keep those hard-working Ontarians in Thunder Bay employed.

It’s unfortunate that the members in the NDP don’t support this government when we bring forward over $700 million of investments into that Thunder Bay plant, when we bring forward billions and billions of dollars of investment into Line 2, like the Yonge North subway extension that will be supported by those trains in Thunder Bay—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Taxation

Mr. John Fraser: I was up late last night, after I got here in Toronto, working on our opposition day motion. I got to thinking, and I thought, “Why is it that only Liberals are proposing tax cuts?” Prime Minister Carney has put forward an income tax cut, and I do remember seven years ago, that the Premier promised to cut income taxes. He promised to cut income taxes, and guess what? It never happened. Times are tough these days. Times are tough. Families are struggling just to put food on the table, to pay their rent. They need a little help.

Speaker, through you to the Premier: Does the Premier think it’s time to unbreak his broken promise and deliver an income tax cut to families?

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

Mr. Dave Smith: It’s a great opportunity to stand up and talk about the fantastic work that this government has done over the last six-plus years. We inherited quite the mess when we were first elected in 2018. The Liberals had introduced cap-and-trade, which was a tax on everyday people. The Liberals had brought in more toll roads, which was a tax on everyday people. What did we do? We removed the tolls on 412 and 418.

Our electricity bills under the Liberals went up 300%. We went from the lowest rate in North America to the highest rate. We have reversed that, saving families over $1,000 a year. We’ve introduced One Fare, which is saving commuters $1,600 every single year.

Madam Speaker, the record of this government has been to reduce the cost of living for every single person in Ontario.

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

Mr. John Fraser: Speaker, back to you: Why are Liberals the only ones proposing tax cuts? Now, I know—hey, we all remember—

Interjections.

Mr. John Fraser: No, just listen for a sec—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Government side will come to order.

Mr. John Fraser: We all remember that Prime Minister Carney cut his carbon tax. But the Premier, he kept his. The Premier kept his carbon tax, right? The Premier—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Stop the clock. The government side will come to order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I apologize to the member. I’ve stopped the clock. The government side will come to order. I don’t want to start calling people’s names.

Back to the leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: The Premier kept his carbon tax. He still has it. You’re all paying it right now.

Why is it the Premier says he’s on the side of Ontario families, but he can’t cut their taxes?

Mr. Dave Smith: Let’s take another path down history and take a look at what the voting record is of the Liberals in the last two governments. We introduced legislation to give a $200-per-person rebate back to the taxpayers of Ontario, and they voted against it. We lowered the gas tax 10 cents per litre, and what did they do? They voted against it. Every measure that we put forward to reduce taxes, the Liberals have voted against it.

In the history of Ontario, there has not been a government that has held the line on taxes their entire term, and yet, for six-plus years—almost seven years now—that has been our record.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. John Fraser: Okay, I’m glad the member opposite mentioned history. The Premier has the largest, most expensive cabinet in the history of Ontario. And if that’s not enough, he’s got the largest and most expensive Premier’s office in the history of Ontario.

How is it that the government has no problem filling its pockets but can’t put money into the pockets of Ontario families?

Mr. Dave Smith: We have been laser-focused on the economy in Ontario, and we have done things to make it easier for people to live. We’ve reduced the tax burden on the people of Ontario. Do you know what that has resulted in, Madam Speaker? That has resulted in our economy growing. We’ve increased the revenue to the province by almost $50 billion, but we have not raised a single tax in that length of time.

Yet, when we look at the Liberals and what they did, they handed us the most indebted subnational state in the entire world. When the economic times are good, that’s when you should be lowering the debt. We absolutely had to have the measures during COVID to make sure that we were protecting the people of Ontario. But we were given a position where the cupboard was bare.

We have been focusing on bringing those jobs back to Ontario. Some 300,000 manufacturing jobs left under the Liberals. More than 800,000 jobs have come back to Ontario since we’ve been—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Energy rates

Mr. John Fraser: Never has a government spent so much, borrowed so much, put so much debt in and done so little.

Speaker, through you: Another promise, seven years ago—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The government side will come to order.

Mr. John Fraser: I can’t hear myself think over here, guys.

Seven years ago, the Premier promised he’d cut hydro rates, that hydro rates would go down. But guess what? What happened? They went—

Interjections: They went up.

Mr. John Fraser: Up—right. So, Speaker, we propose taking the HST off home energy bills—simple, straightforward. Will the Premier today support doing exactly that?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Energy and Mines.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: It was the Liberal Party that lost an election because of the incompetence of how you managed hydro in the province of Ontario. A 400% increase—honestly, the Academy Award goes to the interim leader of the Liberal Party. How can you talk with a straight face about hydro when it increased by 400%—$1,000 more every single year for a working family or for a senior—and you did nothing to stop it because you were driven by ideology instead of choosing the lowest-cost option.

We have used competitive procurement to draw down prices by 30%. We’ve stabilized prices. In fact, we’ve launched the largest energy savings program in the history of Canada, which your party voted against. We’re going to continue to cut taxes, cut the gas tax and make life affordable in spite of the Liberal party.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Just a reminder to talk through the Chair.

Back to the leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: I’ll just go back to it. You said you put prices down, but they went up, and that’s pretty straightforward. It’s simple math, Minister; that’s what I was pointing out. Families could use some relief on their energy bills. I think that’s a reasonable thing to say. Again, why are Liberals the only ones proposing tax cuts? I said it earlier: Families are struggling, and they need something they can count on every week, every paycheque.

If the Premier can find $2.2 billion and a 95-year lease for a foreign shell company, how come he can’t find dollars for tax cuts for Ontario families?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: When this Legislature was seized with an opportunity to create affordability for every single driver in the province of Ontario—a 10-cent reduction in gas and diesel, which we extended and then made permanent—it was the Liberal Party, in their wisdom, who opposed it while campaigning for a carbon tax. The federal Liberals—the member opposite seems to suggest there is a virtue in creating a tax, elevating the tax and then removing the tax, and somehow we’re supposed to be grateful to them for seeing the light on something that Conservatives oppose consistently and systematically.

Madam Speaker, we are going to keep taxes low, we’re going to keep energy prices low and we’re going to continue to stand up for Canadian businesses to succeed, to grow our economy and to create more jobs for the people of Ontario.

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

Mr. John Fraser: It’s the last supplementary; you won’t have to endure much more.

I still didn’t get an answer to my question. Again, to the mining minister: You said you would put hydro prices—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Through the Speaker.

Mr. John Fraser: —that they would go down, that they would be lower. They are, in fact, not lower. Check your bills; maybe you don’t. They went up. Families need relief. A very simple measure: Taking the HST off their bills will help them on their hydro and their gas bills.

Speaker, is the government saying they don’t think that’s a good idea? That they don’t want to put that money back into the pockets of families?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the Minister of Energy and Mines.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Independent experts have confirmed that hydro rates will be 23% lower under our plan when compared to the plan the Liberals had and campaigned to continue. We’re saving families every single month, because we launched the largest energy-efficiency program in the history of Canada: $10.9 billion of investment back into the people’s pockets—a program the Liberals could have enacted but failed to do so.

Our priority will continue to be lowering costs for families. We’ve stabilized the rates. We’ve cut gasoline taxes. We have made sure lowest-income families benefit from the LIFT tax credit, the most progressive tax reduction in Ontario history. We’re going to continue to put money back into people’s pockets, and we’re going to continue to work with all members opposite who want to work with government in this moment of crisis to make life affordable and to save Canadian jobs for the people of Ontario.

Automotive industry

Ms. Jennifer K. French: My question is to the Premier. This is a very hard time for auto workers in our community of Oshawa. General Motors has announced the end of the third shift in Oshawa, which means 750 permanent jobs and 1,500 to 2,000 spin-off jobs will be leaving our community.

Since President Trump started this tariff war, workers have been bracing for impact, and now GM has made a reckless and political move that is putting the future of so many workers at risk. The last time, the Premier sided with GM and said the ship had left the dock; well, now the ship is leaving.

So Premier, will you stand with Oshawa’s auto workers and this time will you fight for the workers?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the member for Bay of Quinte.

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: Thank you to the member from Oshawa for the question.

We know on this side of the House how important those manufacturing jobs are. In fact, they’re the lifeblood of so many of our communities, including mine in Bay of Quinte, where 28.5% of our GDP comes from manufacturing exports to the United States. That’s why we put forward $11 billion in solutions to keep businesses afloat and keep workers working, bringing home those paycheques and being able to put food on the table for their families. And that’s not all.

We’ve also put forward more money—hundreds of millions of dollars—for the made-in-Ontario manufacturing tax credit, more money for the Skills Development Fund to train hundreds of thousands of workers who may have lost their jobs, and tens of millions of dollars for the trade-impacted communities fund, for communities like yours in Oshawa or Windsor, or my home community of Bay of Quinte.

This government is always going to prioritize the needs of the people of Ontario and make sure that we protect their livelihoods for years to come.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Oshawa.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: Thank you, and with all due respect, we’re not ready to talk about retraining. We have six months ahead of us and we’ve got some fight in Oshawa.

Workers who are losing their jobs are devastated and families are reeling. Unifor Local 222 and all the auto workers are fighting back against Donald Trump’s chaos and I am proud to fight alongside them. This feels familiar. Auto workers in our community have fought to keep jobs here many times before. We need all levels of government committed to workers to fight to keep good jobs here and keep manufacturers committed to Ontario.

Oshawa built GM. Ontario has made massive financial investments, but people are worried that there weren’t strings attached. So, Premier, what are you doing to make sure GM stays committed to Ontario and to Oshawa workers?

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: Thank you once again to the member from Oshawa for the question, and we understand how important this question is for Oshawa, in light of these layoffs, which are very troubling and very damaging to those families. But as I asserted for you earlier, our government has been in constant contact with the company as well as with our labour partners, and they have recommitted several times in the course of those conversations to making sure that the Oshawa plant will remain and will continue to produce Ontario-made trucks for years to come.

Now, I know that there has been a lot of strife in Oshawa over the years, particularly during the previous Liberal government when they tried to chase away 300,000 manufacturing jobs. This government has continued to make sure that those investments are incoming, with over $75 billion in new investments since 2018, creating over one million new jobs.

We will always stand strong with workers and with businesses to make sure we’re building a better economy that works for everyone here in Ontario.

Taxation

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: In 2018, this Premier campaigned on a promise to cut income taxes. He said, “We have a simple theory: Put money back into the taxpayers’ pocket instead of the government’s pocket, because we believe that the taxpayers are a lot smarter at spending their money than any government.”

Well, Speaker, six budgets, seven fall economic statements later, and that’s still just a theory.

We know the Premier can afford to make good on this theory—make this theory a reality—because under this Premier personal income tax revenues have skyrocketed. They’re up over 45%—$16 billion—under his watch. So he can afford to do this; he just isn’t.

My question to the Premier: Will he put his money where his mouth is and finally cut income taxes?

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

Mr. Dave Smith: If we look back to just this past fall with the fall economic statement, there was a $200 rebate going back to every single person who paid taxes in Ontario. That effectively is a tax break. And what did the Liberals opposite do? They voted against that measure. I’ll take no lessons from the Liberal Party, who says one thing and does something completely different. They voted against every single measure that we have put forward to reduce taxes for people. The 10-cent-per-litre gas tax cut that we made—started off as a temporary measure; it is now permanent—they voted against it.

There is not a single measure that we have done to make life more affordable for the people of Ontario that they have voted for. In fact, they have voted against every single one of them.

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

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: This government is collecting record amounts of taxes—billions more than the previous Liberal government. This Premier talks about being a businessman; I think he should add taxman to his résumé.

This government voted against my private member’s bill to cut small business taxes in half, which would save them up to $17,900 a year. That’s money that would help them keep their doors open and keep their employees employed as they face a potential recession from US tariffs.

Speaker, businesses in Don Valley West and across Ontario need this help now. It’s not just for them; it’s for their workers. It would help the two thirds of private sector workers who work in small businesses keep their jobs.

Through you to the Premier, Speaker: Will he help small businesses and workers by cutting income taxes?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Associate Minister of Small Business.

Hon. Nina Tangri: I do want to thank the member opposite for the question.

Prior to getting elected in 2018, it was this Premier and this government that promised to make life more affordable for businesses and for the people of Ontario. So one of the first pieces of legislation was to reduce the taxes on small businesses to 3.2%. That was a promise made and a promise kept. And how did the opposition Liberals vote, how did the NDP vote? They voted against that reduction at that time, and today, all of a sudden, they have a great feeling for small businesses?

Not only that; we just introduced, a couple of weeks ago, legislation to provide $9 billion in cash flow relief, supporting businesses and mostly small businesses by helping them defer taxes on employer health taxes, on insurance premium tax, on retail sales tax, on fuel tax, mining tax. These are real, tangible savings and help for small—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Nuclear energy

Mr. Lorne Coe: My question is to the Minister of Energy and Mines. The world economy is unstable. The US is threatening tariffs. Costs are rising. Families and job creators across Ontario are worried about what this could mean for them. And while others talk, our government is taking real action. Ontario has a strong plan to protect jobs and keep energy costs low because that’s what leadership looks like.

Nuclear power is key to meeting that need. It gives us clean, stable power we can count on. It creates good jobs in Ontario for Ontario workers, and it keeps the economy strong in uncertain times. While the opposition parties fight nuclear, our government is fighting for Ontario.

Speaker, can the minister tell us how we’re using nuclear power to protect our energy future and support jobs right here in Ontario and in my riding of Whitby?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: I want to thank the member for Whitby for the question, and I want to thank him for his leadership in supporting Ontario’s nuclear advantage.

Speaker, we know that the only way forward to have baseload, reliable, 24/7 affordable power for the people of Ontario—to secure our future, given 75% demand forecasts—is we need to expand and refurbish our entire nuclear fleet, which is exactly what the Premier of this province campaigned on and that he is delivering. In fact, the largest commercial nuclear generator that’s being refurbished, at Bruce, where I know the Minister of Rural Affairs is very passionate about this expansion, is being done, delivering over 6,500 megawatts of clean power.

We have committed to extending Pickering. This is, of course, in contrast to the Liberals, who tried to shut down the Pickering nuclear plant, who would have turned their backs on 4,500 high-paying jobs for the people of Ontario.

We know that in order to grow the economy, we have to have more power, which is why we’re working with the Minister of Labour to build the largest nuclear generator on earth of 10,000 megawatts of power: more jobs, affordable energy, a secure future for the people of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Whitby.

Mr. Lorne Coe: Speaker, Ontario’s not waiting; we’re leading. While others back away from big ideas, our government is moving forward. We’re powering our province, and yes, our country.

Electricity demand in Ontario is expected to rise by 75% by 2050. That is why we’re advancing bold projects to meet Ontario’s growing needs. The Darlington small modular reactor is proof of that leadership. It means more jobs, more clean power and more made-in-Ontario solutions. And it shows what’s possible when we believe in our workers, our supply chain and our energy future. This shows that Ontario can lead again, not just at home but around the world.

Speaker, can the minister explain how our investments in nuclear power are helping Ontario assert leadership at home and on the global stage?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: It’s not just the member for Whitby who’s been a strong champion for nuclear. In fact, it’s the former member from Ajax who’s been leading the way in Durham and across Ontario, fighting for affordable, reliable, clean nuclear power.

The fact of the matter is, we have a plan. We’re building the first small modular reactor in the G7 right at Darlington. This fleet will help produce 1,200 megawatts of power, but more importantly, it will create Canadian jobs. We’re talking about upwards of 17,000 jobs during construction. We’re talking about 2,000 permanent jobs over the 65-year lifespan—half a billion dollars of Canadian businesses building out these SMRs, and we’re going to in fact be a part of the build-out for SMRs around the world, creating more jobs for the people of Ontario.

This is a plan to grow our economy. This is a plan to deliver affordable power. It’s a plan to ensure Canada stands as a top-tier energy superpower in the world.

Special-needs students

MPP Alexa Gilmour: My question today is for the Premier. Community Living released a harrowing report about the dangers students with disabilities face due to the chronic underfunding by this Conservative government. The TDSB has a $58-million deficit, which means more cuts to programs, to staff and to supports.

There is deep pain in the special-needs community today, as children are walking out of classrooms and ending up in the streets, and children like Landyn are dying because schools lack enough funding and trained staff. This is not just a funding issue, Speaker; this is a safety crisis.

Why has the government not taken action to keep children safe and supported?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Look, I think I said last week that it really doesn’t matter that we have record levels of funding in different programs, especially across the education sector. It doesn’t matter as long as parents don’t feel that their kids are safe in school.

Let me be very clear to the Toronto District School Board and any school board out there: If you think you’re going to cut classroom education, think again. If you think you’re going to take funding cuts and disadvantage our students, think again. We have some of the best teachers in the world. We have some of the best educators in the world. We have the best principals and vice-principals. These are people who are focused on one thing, and that is ensuring that our students have the best that they possibly can and succeed.

I certainly will not allow the Toronto District School Board, or any school board, for that matter, to cut the programs and services that matter, that give our kids all the advantages that they need to succeed, and that is a very clear message to the Toronto District School Board. Don’t test me. Don’t push me. I’ll make a decision for you if they do that.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

MPP Alexa Gilmour: Speaker, like so many of us, I love a good musical, but this is the Legislature. Can we skip the song and dance, please?

We know the government’s playbook at this point. Act one: Blame the public institution for failures caused by chronic underfunding by the government. Act two: Claim the system is broken so that you can privatize.

With the threat of ballooning classrooms, fewer teachers, our students are at risk, our boards have already made the cuts, and for our special education kids like Landyn Ferris, their lives are on the line.

Why is this government picking a fight with the school boards, who have already made cuts, instead of working with them to help our children?

Hon. Paul Calandra: I think we made it very clear. I don’t want school boards going to Blue Jays games. I don’t want them sending trustees all over the world to be art inspectors. What I want them to do is focus on providing the highest level of education for the kids in the school. I think parents deserve that, and more importantly, I think students deserve that. So, will I continue to fight boards that divert money from the classrooms and away from our teachers? Absolutely, Madam Speaker.

I’ll let the NDP continue to fight for those trustees who waste taxpayer money, and I will continue to fight for parents, students and teachers and make sure that every single dollar that is meant for the classroom goes to the classroom. I will accept nothing less.

And if any school board thinks differently, let me tell them very, very clearly: Do what you’re supposed to do, because if you don’t, I will do it for you, and I will always side with students, parents and teachers all the time.

Taxation

Mr. Stephen Blais: Well, with the threat of tariffs and an affordability crisis, Liberals are still the only party talking about tax cuts.

The Premier has had every chance to side with working people, and he’s rejected it every time. The Premier voted against making their kids’ extracurriculars more affordable. He’s voted against cutting small business taxes. He doesn’t support taking the HST off the cost of heating your home or cooling it in the summer, and he’s failed to deliver an income tax cut for the middle class.

But, Madam Speaker, don’t worry; today the Premier can change course. He and his government can vote to cut income taxes, to lower energy bills and give small businesses a break. Or he can do what he always does: talk a big game and leave families in the lurch.

So, Madam Speaker, will the Premier back real tax cuts today, or will he once again tell Ontarians to wait—“It’s okay”?

Hon. Doug Ford: Well, let’s talk about this, about giving money back to the people: When we saw $3 billion more come into our province, do you know what the NDP and Liberals wanted to do? They wanted to spend it on all their little backroom deals with all their buddies. We gave it back to the people. But they voted against the $200 rebate. One Fare, that would put over $1,600, $1,800 back into people’s pockets; they voted against it. When we got rid of the tolls for the hard-working blue-collar people, they voted against the tolls. When we made sure that we gave 1.1 million low-income workers savings of as much as $850 every year, you voted against it.

There’s no government that’s put more money into people’s pockets than ourselves, but you constantly vote against it.

We reduced the cost of doing business by $8 billion in this province to create more hard-working blue-collar jobs—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Stephen Blais: I’m glad the Premier talked about spending, because his government has spent more money than any government in the history of Ontario, run the biggest deficits. So if we want to talk spending, look in the mirror, Mr. Premier.

Madam Speaker, families in this province are out of patience. They don’t need more slogans; they need lower bills, they need fairer taxes and a government that backs them.

Seven years ago, the Premier promised Ontarians an income tax cut, but year after year, budget after budget, that promise has been left on the cutting-room floor.

Today’s motion is a test: Will the Premier support relief for families and small businesses, or will he just keep saying, “Maybe next time?” Will the Premier support tax cuts today, or is he really prepared to ask Ontario families to keep on waiting?

Hon. Doug Ford: Let’s remind everyone out there, their Liberal cap-and-trade—do you remember that? Do you remember that? A lot of you were there. You voted for it. We ended up reducing the gas tax by 10 cents a litre, putting money back into people’s pockets. We eliminated the vehicle sticker tax by $120 per car. They voted against it.

Let me say, times have changed. When President Trump is attacking our province, attacking our country, we’re going to stand up for the people of Ontario. We’re going to make sure that we create the environment for companies to come here and invest into the people of Ontario. That’s what we’re going to focus on. We’re going to continue attracting companies coming here. But do you what we’re going to do? We’re going to continue cutting taxes. That’s what we are all about. You believe in increasing taxes.

Transportation infrastructure

Mr. Deepak Anand: Madam Speaker, here is a question that really affects the people of Ontario, and the question is for the Minister of Transportation.

Every day, people across Ontario are stuck dealing with gridlock traffic. Parents miss time with their kids. Truck drivers lose hours. Small businesses pay more for goods to move. Gridlock is not just a traffic issue; it is an economic issue, and it is holding our province back.

I have heard from the people in my riding who want to see the new roads built. They want better highways, fewer delays, faster trips. People are tired of talk and opposition by the Liberals and the NDP.

People are looking for action. That’s why they want our government to continue the work we are doing on building roads and highways. Speaker, can the minister share with the House what our government is doing to fight gridlock and move Ontario forward?

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: Thank you to the member for Mississauga–Malton for that question. Speaker, he’s absolutely right. Gridlock is costing Ontario in time, productivity and the quality of our life. Parents miss dinner with their kids. Truckers lose hours. Small businesses pay more to move goods.

That’s why, under Premier Ford’s leadership, we’re delivering real solutions. We’re building Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass, the 401 tunnel, and we’re expanding highways across this province. While the Liberals and NDP block progress, our PC government is getting shovels in the ground. We’re not just planning for today; we’re planning for generations to come.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Deepak Anand: Thank you to the parliamentary assistant for that assurance.

Gridlock is more than just an inconvenience; it is a barrier to economic growth. Reports shows that gridlock costs our economy $56 billion a year. If we don’t act, the cost is projected to grow to $108 billion in less than 20 years.

That’s why our government is acting and building a stronger highway network. But the Liberals and NDP continue to vote against new highway infrastructure. They said no to Highway 413. They said no to the Bradford Bypass.

Unlike the Liberals and NDP, we know the people of Ontario want us to build our province. They want us to progress. That’s why I’m asking the parliamentary assistant to explain how our government projects will help tackle this congestion. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: The member again is absolutely right. Gridlock is costing Ontario billions while the Liberals and NDP spent years saying no and doing absolutely nothing. Our PC government is the only one saying, “Let’s build.”

That’s why Ontarians gave Premier Ford a strong third mandate, to build projects like the Bradford Bypass that will move traffic off local roads and onto a proper freeway. Highway 413 alone will save drivers up to 30 minutes, and by 2031, it will carry over 300,000 trips per day.

Imagine those 300,000 cars jammed on the 401, jammed on the 410 during rush hour. That’s why we’re also investing in the 401 tunnel, the Gardiner Expressway, the DVP and we’re expanding highways across this province.

Speaker, our population is growing fast. Our PC government is building highways and the critical infrastructure that our province needs to succeed, and we’re going to continue to do so, so that generations—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Public transit

Ms. Doly Begum: My question is to the Premier. The tunnel for the Scarborough subway extension was supposed to be finished months ago. It is not finished; in fact, we’re hearing that the $757-million tunnel project is barely 20% finished after more than two years of construction.

So will the Premier explain why this important project—and he knows Scarborough is important—is delayed and when he expects the tunnel to be completed? Thank you, Speaker.

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

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Thanks to this Premier’s vision for this province, we are building Scarborough the transit it so desperately needs. For years, the previous Liberal government robbed transit riders in Scarborough of what they deserve.

When we came into government, the Premier made a commitment to build the Scarborough subway extension, and that is exactly what we are doing. It supports over 3,000 jobs annually, and the people of Scarborough deserve that transit.

That’s why we have shovels in the ground—our tunnelling machine is currently operational—and we continue to make significant progress for the residents of Scarborough. It will have over 100,000 daily boardings.

I hope the members across the aisle, both Liberals and NDP, support continued investment into Scarborough and transit across this province.

Ms. Doly Begum: Speaker, the people of Scarborough don’t want any more promises. The Scarborough subway extension was supposed to cost $5.5 billion. Last month, Infrastructure Ontario quietly revealed that the cost of the main P3 contract for the subway project was $5.7 billion. That’s on top of $757-million contract for the tunnel.

We know that Metrolinx likes to keep secrets when there are problems. So will the Premier or the minister direct Metrolinx to tell us why they can’t get this project done on time and on budget?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Here are the facts: The NDP have opposed every single one of our subway projects—including the Liberals, actually. Whether it’s the Liberals or the NDP, when we put forward the Scarborough subway extension, every single member between both the Liberals and NDP voted against that. Whether it’s the Scarborough subway extension, which is going to move over 100,000 people every single day, the Ontario Line, which will move over 400,000 people every single day, members opposite have voted against that every single time.

We are the government that has committed to getting it done. We’re committed to building. And over the next 10 years, for public transit, we are investing over $70 billion. We will continue to get shovels in the ground, continue to build, and ensure subways and priority transit projects across this province are built.

Taxation

Mr. Rob Cerjanec: Ontarians are struggling more than ever. They’re facing rising costs, stagnant wages and tariff threats that are driving prices even higher. Families need relief.

The Premier promised a middle-class tax cut back in 2018, but working families, they’re still waiting. It’s been seven years. My question to the Premier: Will he finally keep his promise and cut income taxes for the middle class?

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

Mr. Dave Smith: As I’ve said already today multiple times, we have done so much to make life more affordable for the people of Ontario. One of the things that seems to be lost by the Liberals is when they drove out 300,000 jobs—when we came into power, we brought back in more than a million jobs to this province, and we’ve seen the results of it. That’s all about the plan to build this economy and make sure that we have the things that the people of this province need.

We’ve reduced the cost of living for every person in this province. With licence plate stickers—that alone—the Liberals saw that as a fee that they can jack up every year to increase their revenue. We’ve increased revenue by getting people back to work, by finding opportunities for them to have more jobs, reducing the cost of driving your car by $120 a year by taking that one measure off. That’s eight million vehicles owned by people in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Rob Cerjanec: Speaker, there used to be a time in this Legislature when Conservatives said, “Promise made, promise kept.” My question to the Premier: What’s the holdup?

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

Mr. Dave Smith: God’s country—thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you again for the for the question on that. Two hundred dollars per person as a tax rebate that went back to them—that was money that people had paid to us in income tax that we gave back to them because that was something that was important. And what did the members opposite do? They voted against it.

Reducing the gas tax by 10 cents per litre to give some of that instant relief back to people—what did the members opposite do again? They voted against that.

Every single measure that we put forward to put money back into the people’s pockets has been voted against by the Liberals.

Ontario economy

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources.

President Donald Trump has made it clear he doesn’t think the US needs Canadian or Ontario lumber, minerals or energy. Ontario’s natural resources of forests, minerals and energy are vital to our communities and economy. They support jobs, especially in northern Ontario, and are essential for our goals. They are key to Ontario’s strength and future growth. We need to keep building and keep selling what we make here at home and around the world.

Speaker, can the minister please explain what steps our government is taking to protect and strengthen Ontario’s natural resources sector from growing threats coming from the United States?

Hon. Mike Harris: Thank you to the member for Oxford for that question. I can tell you right now that President Trump is dead wrong. Let’s be clear: The US does and will always need Ontario’s natural resources. We’re stronger together as friends and allies. That’s how we stand up to China and protect North American jobs.

Ontario’s natural resources help build homes, roads, cars and clean energy. They support thousands of good jobs in the north and across this province. That’s why our government is showing strong leadership to protect Ontario. We are cutting red tape, speeding up permits and making it easier to mine and harvest responsibly. We are working with our federal partners and the US to grow a better supply chain.

Speaker, Ontario’s economy depends on our resources, and we will never let them be pushed aside or diminished.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Thank you to the minister for the response.

Families in the north and across Ontario are proud of the work they do in the natural resources sector. They know how much the sector means to our economy. But they also know these jobs are being threatened by tariffs.

When leaders in the US say they don’t need our resources, we can’t sit back. We must continue to stand up for Ontario and defend what we build here.

Our government has a plan focused on protecting Ontario jobs. We’re also working to make sure our resources are valued around the world. They should not be dismissed by our neighbours or anyone.

Speaker, can the minister explain how we are standing with our resource workers and pushing back against unfair attacks from the United States?

Hon. Mike Harris: Madam Speaker, I can tell you families in the north and across our province have every right to be proud. Our mining, forestry and energy workers help build Ontario and all of North America.

Once again, President Trump is wrong. The US needs our lumber, our minerals and our clean energy. Homes, highways, cars and batteries—none of this gets built without Ontario.

We are showing strong leadership. We’re speeding up permits and cutting red tape. We’re working with our federal partners and US leaders who understand how important Ontario is.

Speaker, this is about protecting Ontario jobs. It is about building a stronger Canada. And together with our allies, we will push back against unfair attacks and stand up for what we build here in this province.

Ontario economy

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: My question is to the Premier. Ontarians want to do the right thing and support our friends and neighbours by shopping local and supporting Ontario’s small businesses. Who could disagree?

A minor tweak to Ontario’s regulatory requirements would be a simple update requiring big box stores to label products with a Canada flag or an Ontario flag. This supports small businesses who will be hard hit by trade exposure.

Ontarians want this. Proudly labelling goods with an Ontario or Canadian flag would be one step to balance the economic environment.

Why does this government refuse to support small businesses and refuse to help consumers who want to shop local?

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

Mr. Dave Smith: We recognize the status quo is not an option in this tariff trade war that we have with the United States.

I want to give a big shout-out to the manufacturers here in Ontario, because during COVID, they came up with a program called made in Ontario. We have that sticker available on products that are being developed right now—that are being made—in Ontario. We’ll continue to promote that and continue to work with those manufacturers on it because we do think it’s very, very important to make sure that the people of Ontario recognize and know that products made in Ontario are good products and that’s what they should be purchasing.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for London North Centre.

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: In previous answers to the official opposition, this government has suggested that the Ontario flag or the Canadian flag are red tape, or that supporting Ontario small businesses is red tape. We here in the official opposition are here to inform this government that supports for small businesses are not red tape.

Will this government finally show pride in our flag, update regulatory requirements for amazing Ontario-made products and ensure consumers can support Ontario’s small businesses?

Mr. Dave Smith: We agree wholeheartedly that promoting Ontario is not red tape. We agree wholeheartedly that things made in Ontario are things that people should be purchasing.

If you look at the advertising campaign that this government has done, it has consistently been about promoting Ontario. The opposition members actually opposed the idea of that advertising campaign to say that Ontario is the place to invest, Ontario is the place to purchase from, Ontario is the centre of Canada’s industrial might. They’ve opposed all of that.

We will continue to get behind all of those small businesses here in Ontario and make sure that we’re doing the things that we need to do to promote them and ensure the success of all people in Ontario.

Public health

Mr. Adil Shamji: For the Premier: Last week, we heard from the Minister of Health all of the so-called action that has been taken by the Minister of Health since we faced the worst measles outbreak in the last three decades. We heard about letters that have been written and so-called funds that have been spent, and not even 24 hours had passed before we learned that the number of measles cases in this province had increased by over 200 and the measles outbreak in Ontario is accelerating.

Now that the government’s approach to addressing measles has failed, what do the Minister of Health and the Premier have to say to Ontarians?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the Minister of Health for a response.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: You know, Speaker, I’ll say what I have been saying, what Dr. Kieran Moore has been saying for over a year and a half: Public health units need to refocus their efforts—which we did through a directive—to ensure that childhood vaccinations were up to date. We have ensured, as a government, to make sure that we have sufficient measles vaccines available to primary care clinicians, to public health units, to hospitals. We’ve done that. We are doing everything that we can to ensure that this outbreak that began in a very small area, very small group, is not going to continue to impact our communities.

Those are the changes that we make as a government to ensure that not only do public health units actually understand what their responsibilities are, but we give them the financial ability to do that, and we direct them through the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

That’s action, that’s ensuring that people understand the value and importance of a vaccine that has been in the province of Ontario for over 50 years. We will continue to do that.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Adil Shamji: Back to the Premier: This is not confined to a small community now. We have measles in the Premier’s own riding of Etobicoke North at the Woodbine Mall and Fantasy Fair, we’ve got measles in downtown Toronto at Ripley’s Aquarium, and we’ve got the Minister of Health telling us she’s been doing the same thing over and over again for a year and a half. And we know what that same thing is: It’s underfunding public health, silencing our public health officials and doing absolutely nothing.

To the Premier: When will you take action? When will you simply utter the word “measles”?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: That’s got to be Liberal math, Speaker, when you increase the budget of public health units by almost 20% and they call that a cut. It is insane that they do not understand that a 20% investment is actually more money for public health units in the province of Ontario.

Visitor

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Before we rise for lunch, I would like to announce that we have Patrice Barnes, the MPP for Ajax in the 43rd Parliament, joining us.

There being no further business, this House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1149 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Anthony Leardi: I’m very happy to have a guest here today from the town of Amherstburg. She is from my constituency, the constituency of Essex. Her name is Danielle Brindley. I’d like to welcome her to the Ontario Legislative Assembly.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: I’d like the House to welcome a remarkable organization that has been doing some very important and groundbreaking work in Ontario, calling for an end to anti-Black racism. Please join me in welcoming Black People United for Change, who are in the House today.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: ᒥᑵᐨ

ᒥᓄ ᐃᓑᑿ ᐊᐱᑕᑭᔑᑲ

It’s a good afternoon. Good afternoon, everyone.

I’d like to welcome the leadership from Kiiwetinoong who are here today—I think they’re arriving soon, but I don’t see them. It’s not every day that you see people from Kiiwetinoong, because it’s thousands of kilometres away from where we are.

Welcome to Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, who will be here shortly—he’s right there—Anna Betty Achneepineskum; and, of course, their staff members: Krystyn Ordyniec, Kennedy Ling, Alison Anderson, Michael Heintzman and Martha Loon.

Welcome, Grand Chief Leo Friday from the Mushkegowuk Council.

From the Windigo First Nations Council, we welcome Anne Chabot.

Meegwetch for joining us today.

Introduction of Government Bills

More Convenient Care Act, 2025 / Loi de 2025 pour plus de soins commodes

Ms. Jones moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 11,

An Act to enact or amend various Acts related to health care / Projet de loi 11, Loi visant à édicter ou à modifier diverses lois en ce qui concerne les soins de santé.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Does the member wish to briefly explain the bill?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: The More Convenient Care Act, if passed, would take the next steps in the province’s plan to provide more people with the right publicly funded care in the right place by making it easier to access their health care records, building healthier communities and bolstering the province’s health care workforce today and in the future.

Petitions

Mental health services

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Diana Smith from Capreol in my riding for these petitions. This week is Mental Health Week, and the petition is called “Invest in Mental Health Services.”

What Diana and many people in Capreol are saying is that about one in five adults experience mental health challenges each and every year. It is really hard for people facing mental illness to be able to have access to the care they need close to home. There are long wait-lists in the Sudbury/Nickel Belt area, and throughout Ontario, to access mental health services. A big reason for this lack of access is that most community-based mental health services have not seen a base budget increase in 12 years. Think about it: You haven’t been able to give your employees a raise for a very long time.

I am happy to sign this petition, and I will ask Edward to bring it to the Clerk.

University funding

Mr. Ted Hsu: My petition today is from my constituents in Kingston and the Islands, many of whom are connected to Queen’s University, the second-largest employer in my riding after CFB Kingston.

One of the things that they’re saying in this petition is that in their experience in Ontario, universities are undervalued and chronically underfunded. They mention this government’s own Blue-Ribbon Panel on Financial Sustainability in the Post-Secondary Education Sector from a year or two ago, which said that Ontario has the lowest level of post-secondary education funding in Canada.

They are asking this government to invest in Ontario’s future—in fact, all of our futures—by investing in Ontario’s universities. And specifically, going back to this government’s own Blue-Ribbon Panel on Financial Sustainability in the Post-Secondary Education Sector, they are asking for a boost to base operating funds to Ontario’s universities, as recommended by their very own blue-ribbon panel.

Anti-racism activities

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: It’s always an honour to rise in this House and to speak on behalf of the great people of Toronto Centre. Today, I’m going to be presenting a petition on behalf of Black People United for Change. This petition is signed by many people from across Toronto and outside of the city as well.

They’re calling upon the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to urgently pass a bill to implement specific laws to protect Black individuals living in Ontario, who are facing anti-Black racism and discrimination, who are facing unjust punishment from law enforcement, exclusion and other systemic barriers.

We recognize in this House that the Black community in Ontario has suffered historical and ongoing injustices, including but not limited to racial profiling and disproportionate policing of Black individuals by law enforcement, and systemic barriers in education, employment, housing, health care and other essential services. There’s always a persistence of harmful stereotypes and racist attitudes that contribute to the discriminatory practices in various facets of life.

There’s a lack of accountability for hate crimes—this is something that we all know very well in this House—especially for those who are Black individuals, as well as unfair legal outcomes and overrepresentation in the justice system, including wrongful punishment and convictions.

The undersigned are calling on this House to do everything they can to prevent and address anti-Black racism through comprehensive education awareness programs; to hold law enforcement accountable for discriminatory practices, with robust civilian oversight and anti-racism training; to ensure that there are fair and equitable practices; to do everything we can to make sure that Black individuals in Ontario have access to education, housing as well as employment.

This petition was presented and authored by Vanessa St. Louis and Emma Ansah, and I want to thank them for coming in today along with other friends and colleagues from Black People United for Change in Ontario.

Veterans

Ms. Catherine Fife: If you were watching TV this weekend and you saw how the Netherlands was responding to the 80th anniversary of the liberation from Nazi Germany, you would be emotional, because it is emotional.

In that spirit, I want to introduce for the first time this petition entitled “Raise the ‘Lest We Forget’ Veterans’ Flag at Queen’s Park.” I think it’s important. This is actually coming from veterans, from Legions across the province of Ontario.

They are asking us to please raise the “Lest We Forget” veterans’ poppy flag at Queen’s Park on the last Friday of October each year, which will be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset.

It’s important to understand that the “Lest We Forget” flag is also a symbol to honour veterans, active members of the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as first responders and their families, and the sacrifices that they have made on behalf of Ontario and on behalf of Canada.

I hope the Legislature will receive this petition as it is intended, as a way to actually show our respect for veterans and first responders across this province.

It’s my pleasure to affix my signature and deliver this to the table for the first time.

Taxation

Mr. Anthony Leardi: I have a petition here that talks about gas taxes. As we all know, the cost of living is going up, and one of the ways we can deal with that is to lower gas taxes, and this petition talks about that. It talks about the gas tax cut that was introduced by this provincial government. In addition to that, it talks about making that gas tax cut a permanent cut. It calls upon the Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario to help out Ontario families and make life a little bit more affordable by making the per-litre gas tax reduction a permanent reduction. I certainly support that. I support making this gas tax reduction a permanent reduction in the gas tax.

Therefore, I’m signing this petition to indicate my support and passing it on to this fine page, Hayden. Hayden is going to take it over to the Clerks’ table.

Alzheimer’s disease

Ms. Doly Begum: Speaker, I have an important petition here calling on this government to develop an Ontario dementia strategy. We’ve been calling for this for years now. Currently, it takes an average of 18 months for people in Ontario to get an official diagnosis. Some patients often wait for years and years to even get their diagnostic testing done. More than half of patients suspected of having dementia in Ontario never actually get their full diagnosis.

Research confirms that there are a lot of people who go through the stress and families go through the stress—and sometimes we lose a lot of lives in that process. The PET scan test approved in Ontario in 2017 is still not covered by OHIP for this. The Ontario government needs to work together.

We’ve got a lot of data that also says that it actually costs the government, costs the province more money by not doing the support, not giving the funding that’s necessary. Research findings show that Ontario will spend over $27 billion from now until 2043 on ALC and long-term-care costs associated with people living with dementia.

So I’m calling on the government, calling on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to develop and commit a comprehensive funding strategy for dementia in Ontario now.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Just a reminder: Petitions are to be brief explanations.

Petitions?

Taxation

Mr. Deepak Anand: My petition is actually non-partisan, from citizens of Ontario who are concerned about the costs—and I heard it from both sides of the aisle, with MPPs talking about reducing the costs, increasing the economy. This petition is about tariffs on steel, aluminum, fuel, costs added, and the implications on construction, transportation and manufacturing.

Madam Speaker, the residents are saying to please cut fuel taxes and are requesting the government to maintain a permanent reduction of gas taxes so that we can help and support the businesses and the residents of Ontario, so that we can, together, build a better, stronger Ontario.

I absolutely support this petition. I’m going to give it to the wonderful page Hayden, who is going to give it to the table.

Thank you, Hayden, for doing an incredible job.

Emergency services

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank the incredible Brenda Salo for these petitions called “911 Everywhere in Ontario.”

The month of May has started. The long weekend is on its way. We will see a lot of people coming to northern Ontario to enjoy everything we have to offer. Some of them, unfortunately, will run into trouble, dial 911 and realize that this number is not in service in northern Ontario.

Speaker, we all know that in times of need, in times of an emergency, we dial 911. But access to 911 is not available in most parts of northern Ontario. In Ontario, it’s available within the boundary of a municipality but not outside of a municipality. So if you leave Sudbury, there are three hours, before you reach Timmins, when there is no 911 available at all.

They have signed the petition to make sure that Ontario does the same thing that every other province in our country has done: Make 911 available everywhere so that if you face an emergency, you can dial 911 and receive the support that you need.

I’m happy to sign this petition, and I will ask my good page Stephaney to bring it to the Clerk.

Land use planning

Ms. Catherine Fife: The petition that I’ll be tabling this afternoon is called “Protect Farmland and Sustainable Growth in Waterloo Region.”

Many of us will already know this story, but 770 acres of prime class 1 farmland are under threat of expropriation for an undisclosed industrial factory. There has been a true lack of transparency and accountability with regard to this development.

I hope we can all agree that stealing farmers’ land is not what we are about in the province of Ontario, especially under the threat of Donald Trump and his tariffs. Our food sovereignty is our national sovereignty.

It is my pleasure to affix my signature to this petition and give it to page Aashman.

Health care funding

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Karen Lewis from Dowling in my riding for this petition. It’s called “Neurological Movement Disorder Clinic in Sudbury.”

For some reason, the people living in northeastern Ontario have a very high rate of neurological movement disorders. Neurological movement disorders are things like Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, dystonia, Tourette’s, and many others.

The city of Greater Sudbury is recognized as a hub for health care for northeastern Ontario, so they would like a clinic to be set up at Health Sciences North, to have a neurologist who specializes in the treatment of movement disorders, a physiotherapist and a social worker, at a minimum. I think this clinic is long overdue and would help a lot of people who have to travel long distances now to gain access to treatment.

I support this petition. I will affix my name to it and ask my good page Zoya to bring it to the Clerk.

Soins de santé

M me France Gélinas: J’aimerais remercier Juliette Denis pour ces pétitions : « Améliorer l’accès aux soins primaires ».

On sait tous que le système de santé public nous définit comme Canadiens, comme Ontariens, et nous différencie de nos voisins aux États-Unis. On a accès aux soins dont on a besoin basé sur nos besoins, pas sur notre habileté à payer. Malheureusement, près de 2,3 millions d’Ontariens et d’Ontariennes en ce moment n’ont pas de médecin de famille ou d’infirmière praticienne.

On sait tous que la meilleure façon d’offrir des soins de qualité, c’est au travers des équipes interdisciplinaires comme les centres de santé communautaire, comme les cliniques dirigées par du personnel de soins infirmiers, comme les équipes de santé familiale, ainsi que les cliniques dirigées pour les personnes autochtones.

Donc, ils demandent au gouvernement de l’Ontario d’augmenter le financement pour les centres de santé communautaire, pour les cliniques d’infirmières praticiennes, pour les cliniques spécialisées pour les personnes autochtones, ainsi que pour les équipes de santé familiale.

Je suis d’accord avec cette pétition, je vais la signer et je demande à Zoya, qui a été très patiente, de l’amener à la table des greffiers.

Front-line workers

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Suzanne Leblanc, who is from Hanmer in my riding, for this petition. This petition is called “Make PSW a Career.”

You know full well that today at Queen’s Park we have a lot of PSWs who have come. They’ve offered us a beautiful lunch today. They work in long-term care. They work in retirement homes. They work in home care. And they want what everybody else wants: a permanent, full-time job that is well paid—that offers some sick days, some holidays, maybe even a pension plan—so that they have enough money at the end of their shift to pay for rent and feed their family.

The ones who work in home care want to make sure that they are paid for their travelling time. In my riding, they will show me that they have submitted over 400 kilometres of driving. Do you know how long it takes in the middle of the winter to travel 400 kilometres in northern Ontario? But those workers don’t get paid for that time. Who works 10, 15 hours a week and doesn’t get paid? PSWs who work in home care. This has to change. That’s why they’ve signed this petition.

I will affix my name to it and ask my very patient page Zoya to bring it to the Clerk.

Opposition Day

Taxation

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: I move this motion:

Whereas Ontario is in an affordability crisis, making it increasingly difficult for families to pay their monthly bills; and

Whereas Ontario businesses are struggling to stay afloat faced with US tariffs; and

Whereas the Premier promised to provide Ontarians with an income tax cut over seven years ago and has failed to deliver;

Therefore, in the opinion of this House, the government of Ontario should make life more affordable for Ontario workers, families and small businesses by reducing the tax rate for Ontario’s second income tax bracket from 9.15% to 7.15%, eliminating the provincial portion of the HST on home heating and hydro bills, and cutting the small business tax rate in half.

It’s addressed to the Premier.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Mr. Fraser has moved opposition day motion number 2.

I acknowledge the leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: In case anybody missed question period this morning, you’re probably going to hear a lot about the same things.

This is our first opposition day motion, so I am proud of all the work that everybody has put into it getting ready for today. It was an important issue for us to raise, because seven years ago the Premier, before he was Premier, promised an income tax cut that he never delivered—nada, nothing. He forgot about it. He forgot about that promise. Nothing has happened.

So, last year, Ontario Liberals put forward a recommendation to the government to split the second bracket between $51,440 and $75,000 and reduce the tax rate from 9.15% to 7.15%. That would mean a difference of $900 a year to Ontario families.

Why is that important? That’s important because we have an affordability crisis. Families are struggling just to put food on the table, to pay the rent, to pay the mortgage, to pay the bills. There’s not a lot left over—if there is anything left over. An income tax cut is something that people can count on every week, every paycheque, something they know that’s going to be there—not receiving a cheque willy-nilly every four years, at the whim of a Premier, because he’s got something that’s more important to him he wants to take care of, like an election.

So, in the spirit of good faith, we just wanted to give the opportunity for the government to say today, “Yes, we’re for an income tax cut. We believe in income tax cuts.” That’s what the Premier says he believes in. That’s what he said seven years ago. That’s the thing that he committed to that he never delivered on, the thing that didn’t get done. In all the things that got done, that’s the thing that didn’t get done—the thing that matters to families right now.

The second thing that we put forward relates to energy costs. Again, there’s another promise—I remember very distinctly not just the Premier—

Interjections.

Mr. John Fraser: —but members on the other side, some of them who are chirping right now because they don’t like what I’m going to say.

What I’m going to say is, you all promised that electricity prices would go down. Did they go down? No, they didn’t go down. What did they do? They went—

Interjections: Up.

Mr. John Fraser: Up, guys. And you all know that, eh? You all know they went up.

You committed to people that you would reduce their costs for electricity. It didn’t happen.

So the least the Premier could do in this instance is actually remove the HST from home heating and electricity. That’s going to mean about $200 a year to families. It’s important. I think it would be a way to unbreak the promise that he broke to reduce electricity prices.

As a matter of fact, providing an income tax cut to families—again, splitting that second income tax bracket between $51,000 and $75,000 and reducing the tax rate by about 2%, giving families about $900 a year. That would be a great way to unbreak the promise that he broke, to fix it, to make it right. That’s why we put the motion forward.

Thirdly, what’s proposed in here is cutting the small business tax rate in half. This was brought forward last year by my colleague from Don Valley West. I know that she’s going to have more to say about it in this debate. I think that would mean about $16,000 to small businesses—

Interjection.

Mr. John Fraser: Thanks. I stand corrected: $18,000.

That’s going to help employees. That’s going to help businesses. That’s going to help create employment in the face of Trump tariffs.

There are people hurting out there right now because production lines are shutting down, especially in our auto industry. We heard about that this morning from the member from Oshawa. People are really hurting. We’ve got to do some things about that. Reducing income taxes will help. Reducing prices for energy will help.

The other thing we have to remember is, it’s not just the big factories; it’s not just the big businesses. Small businesses are going to be affected by this too. They need a break. They need support. That’s why we put this forward.

I know my colleagues are eager, literally chomping at the bit, to have a few words to say about this, but let’s reiterate very quickly what we’re talking about.

Seven years ago, the Premier promised to cut income taxes. Guess what? It didn’t happen. So we put forward a modest proposal to split the second rate—a modest proposal; I wasn’t reading Tom Parkin’s speaking notes. By splitting the second bracket between $51,000 and $75,000 and reducing the tax rate by 2%, that would mean $900 to families. We put that forward. It’s an opportunity for the government to vote for it.

Seven years ago, the Premier said, “I’m going to reduce electricity costs. They’re going to be lower, folks. I’m lowering your electricity.” Guess what? They didn’t go down. They went up. So the least the Premier could do to unbreak his broken promise is to reduce the HST on home heating and electricity.

I look forward to the debate.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Further debate?

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: It’s a pleasure to rise today to speak to opposition day motion number 2.

Speaker, while this government gives billions of taxpayer money to a foreign-owned spa and closes a beloved institution—the Ontario Science Centre, well loved in my riding of Don Valley West—so they can drive business to that spa, families and workers are struggling with an affordability crisis.

This motion asks the government to help families, to help workers, by finally making good on their seven-year-old promise that still stands broken today, to give an income tax cut to middle-income earners—about $950. It also asks them to eliminate the provincial portion of HST on home heating and hydro, saving another couple of hundred dollars. And it asks them to cut the small business tax rate by half, from the current 3.2% to 1.6%, and increase the threshold that is eligible for that deduction from $500,000 to $600,000. That represents a 50% tax cut and a 20% threshold increase. That would save them about $18,000 a year.

While people struggle, this government wants to build a tunnel. While people worry about being able to afford the basics like groceries, rent, their mortgage payment or utilities, this government went on a billion-dollar boozedoggle to get beer in corner stores a year early. While this government pays for billboards that try to hoodwink us into thinking everything is great here in Ontario, the reality tells a very different story.

Here are a few facts. The government talks about creating a million jobs. The government promised to bring back 300,000 manufacturing jobs that went south during the financial crisis, when the dollar was at par, but the reality is they’ve only done about one tenth of that. That’s right: 30,000 jobs of that one million were in manufacturing, the sector they brag about the most. But while they brag about creating jobs, they’re not bragging about another very important measure: Ontario’s unemployment rate. It jumped to an 11-year high of 7.7% at the end of 2024.

Ontario used to be the engine of economic growth. We have the second-highest unemployment rate in the country. Ontario—I’m going to repeat it: the second-highest unemployment rate in the country. Usually we’re in the lower half of provincial rankings, but now, for the first time since the 1970s, we are second in the country—that means thousands of families who are trying to make ends meet. They’re working hard to do everything right. They’re falling behind. It means that graduates who are trying to enter the workforce can’t find a job. The real story is that job creation is not keeping up with the number of people losing jobs and looking for work.

The government’s inability to fix the problem of unemployed workers is making cost-of-living pressures even worse. There are currently 667,000 people unemployed in this province. That’s up from when this government was elected. The situation isn’t something that we can blame on US tariffs, because the performance of Ontario’s labour market—the poor performance—has been steadily deteriorating versus other provinces, in the seven years of this government’s mandate. Under this government, unemployment has increased three and a half times faster than job creation, and that’s not good for workers in this province.

While the government brags about creating jobs, companies that received billions of dollars in public subsidies, tax breaks and bailouts—money that came from Ontario taxpayers—are turning around and threatening to shut down or move elsewhere. These are companies that made promises to create jobs, to invest in our communities, and now they’re talking about walking away, leaving workers and towns to pick up the pieces.

Large companies aren’t the only ones closing up shop. Small businesses—the heart of our economy, the places that sponsor your kids’ sports team, who know your family and give back to their communities at local community events—are feeling the pain.

A small business owner met with me recently. He works in the construction business. With the affordability crisis that homeowners and other businesses are facing, his business is down. He’s struggling to keep his doors open.

In 2024, the number of small businesses in Ontario that filed for bankruptcy or were forced to restructure increased by over 20%. That’s not just a number on a page. That’s a family-run shop closing its doors and their workers losing their jobs.

Business insolvencies have been rising steadily since 2022. In 2024, nearly 500 Ontario small businesses were in bankruptcy proceedings or trying to restructure to keep their doors open. Business insolvencies have continued in 2025 and are now tracking to be the worst in 10 years. Small businesses could have benefited from a full year of savings if my small business tax cut bill had been implemented, as proposed in 2024. But this Conservative government voted against that tax cut. That would have been $18,000 back in the pockets of small businesses, enough to make a difference. It could have saved some of them from shutting their doors. It could have helped them keep their workers working.

I’m going to read a couple of quotes from some of the businesses that supported my tax bill last year.

Let me start with the CFIB. The CFIB said, “On behalf of our 38,000 Ontario small business members across all sectors, we urge” the Minister of Finance and his “government to support private member’s Bill 195.... Lowering the ... (small business tax rate) would allow employers to further invest in their employees, expand their businesses and grow Ontario’s economy. It would also encourage start-ups and new businesses to risk taking the plunge on a new enterprise.”

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce, which also supported the bill, said, “Small businesses are still struggling, and the Ontario chamber welcomes tax relief proposals such as this one.”

And from a small business in my riding:

“The economic challenges we have all faced in recent months have been difficult, especially for small businesses. In the education sector, we’ve seen a marked decline in enrolment, with several families having to reduce their children’s recreational programs due to job loss or rising living expenses. At the same time, we are faced with rising labour costs and operational expenses. Despite these pressures, we have made the decision not to raise fees for our programs in order to continue supporting families during this difficult time.

“This is where” Bill 195 “becomes particularly important. By cutting taxes on small businesses, it will help alleviate some of the financial burdens we face as business owners, enabling us to reinvest in our businesses, retain staff, and continue providing valuable services to the community.

“Small businesses play a crucial role in the livelihood for countless people.”

This “bill marks a positive move towards supporting their growth and success.”

The Tourism Industry Association said, “The measures in Bill 195” echo the TIAO’s “call for small business tax relief as tourism operators continue to grow their visitor numbers while seeing the cost of business rise due to inflationary pressures, high interest rates, supply chain disruptions, and labour shortages. TIAO urges swift passage of Bill 195 to deliver the expanded capacity it would offer small tourism” operators “and visitor destinations across the province.”

So what we are doing today is calling on this government to support small businesses, to support families and workers. We’re giving them a chance to do that with their support for opposition day motion 2 today, and I hope they will do that with us.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Further debate?

Mr. Dave Smith: It’s interesting to hear some of the arguments that are coming forward from members of the third party on this, and some of the things that they historically have done to create the environment we had in Ontario when we were first elected back in 2018. Let’s not lose sight of some of those things.

They came forward with a plan to transition the electrical grid—a plan that caused our hydro rates to increase by 300%. It was something that was very difficult for a lot of small businesses, because that effectively was a tax on business. It was a way to do something that caused hardship in the province.

I remember very, very well, during campaigning in the 2018 election, that there was a slogan someone came up with, where you had to choose between heating and eating—and coming from a riding that has a very significant rural component to it, that was actually the truth. There were a lot of individuals who had to heat their home with electricity because natural gas is not something that you could run through the Canadian Shield effectively. It’s difficult to dig up granite to run a pipeline for natural gas. We still had people who were on oil.

We had a number of people who had transitioned from a wood-burning stove to an electric because it was more reliable for them, but, at the end of the day, the hydro cost was astronomical.

When we take a look at what the Liberal plan was—and this has been confirmed by independent auditors—their plan would have seen our hydro rates increase by 20% more than what they have gone up.

So when we take a look at what they had done and the damage that they’ve done to the province—it is taking time for us to fix some of those things.

Let’s look at the manufacturing side. We had 300,000 manufacturing jobs leave Ontario under their leadership, and it’s because the cost of doing business was so high. We’ve reversed that. We’ve created almost a million jobs in Ontario since we were first elected.

The member opposite threw out a number that I’m struggling with, because with the Volkswagen plant that has been announced and is under construction, there are 32,000 jobs between Volkswagen and the supply chain that is feeding it. I’m struggling with how they come up with their math. Perhaps it was the Liberal discovery math that they had in education—that was another one of their failed policies on it.

They raised the employer health tax. That is something that caused hardship on business. That’s something that we actually reduced on it.

They increased the fees on aviation fuel. When you’re in northern Ontario, especially if you’re in a remote community in northern Ontario, all of your product is being flown into you. So that’s a tax on the average person.

We can’t forget their carbon tax, cap-and-trade system that increased the price of everything. They tried to make an argument that this was something that was good for the people of Ontario. I want to point out that when the federal government finally listened to us and removed the consumer carbon tax, the cost of gasoline dropped 20 cents a litre overnight—overnight. And yet, they had made the argument that that was something that was good for the people of Ontario, that it was good to pay that much in addition to it.

When you look at simple things like licence plate fees—that was one of the fees that they continually increased. It got up to $10 a month for the licence on your car, $120 a year. Premier Ford saw that as a tax on everyday Canadians, something that was hurting the average family taking their kids to the soccer game, going to get groceries—all of those things. We removed that: $120 a year per car—eight million cars. That’s a lot of money that was put back into the pockets of the people in Ontario—in total, over $12 billion in savings is what we’ve actually done, to give money back to the people of Ontario.

We had a rebate just this past year: $200 per person. If you’re a family with three kids—husband, wife, three kids; wife and wife and three kids; husband and husband and three kids—however your family is made up, that’s $1,000. Why did we do that? We did that because that was taxpayer money. That was money that the people of Ontario gave to the Ontario government, and we gave it back to them, because we felt it was something that should happen.

In July of this year alone, more than 100,000 low-income seniors in Ontario are going to be eligible for the GAINS program, which is a way of reducing the cost of living for them.

Going back to the gas taxes for just a minute: 10 cents per litre for gas and diesel. We removed that because everyday people in Ontario travelling wherever they’re travelling were finding it difficult to cover expenses. For the average person, that’s $400 a year that goes right back into their pocket, that they can choose to spend however they choose.

Then we’ve had some people say to us, “Yes, but what if you’re a commuter?” Well, what if you are a commuter? You’re taking GO Transit into Toronto. You’re hopping onto the TTC. Maybe you’re using York transit or Viva or any of the others that way. We introduced One Fare. That is saving the average commuter $1,600 per year—$1,600 extra that you have to choose to spend however you want.

When we look at what the Liberals have done and what they continue to talk about, I want to transition back, because they did bring it up—the election that we just had in February. One of the Liberal platforms—they want to talk about affordability for the average person, for the average family in Ontario. They want to talk about this—and they have.

In their platform, the one promise that they made that was significantly different than something that Premier Ford has said his entire time—Premier Ford has said it’s too expensive for the average person in Ontario to go to post-secondary school, so he held the line on tuition fees. One of their core platforms was to lift the tuition freeze. What they were saying is, they wanted to make it more expensive for that high school graduate to go to college or university. They wanted the average family in Ontario to pay more money to improve the lives of their kids—very short-sighted.

We have been focusing on bringing jobs back to Ontario, building the economy in Ontario, making life more affordable for the people of Ontario, and our plan has been working. You’ve seen an increase in revenue, without raising a single tax in Ontario. We’ve actually lowered taxes, and we’ve seen an increase in revenue. Why have we seen an increase in revenue?

Interjections.

Mr. Dave Smith: Because although the Liberals opposite want to chirp at me on it, almost a million people more have jobs today in this province than they did back in 2018. Our plan is working.

We know there’s more work to be done. We know that we’re facing a threat with the Republican administration putting tariffs on things, and the threats that Donald Trump has put forward, and we know the status quo is not the way that we should go. That’s why, at 11 o’clock today, the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and the Minister of Finance made an announcement about expanding the tax credits for businesses in Ontario—$1.3 billion. That’s all about protecting jobs here in Ontario.

That’s all about ensuring that we’re doing the things we need to do so that the people of this province have the opportunity to continue with a high quality of life. We know that if the economy is not going well, there is nothing else that is.

We have increased funding in health care by $