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August 31, 2022

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2022-Aug-31 (PDF)

L013 - Wed 31 Aug 2022 / Mer 31 aoû 2022

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 31 August 2022 Mercredi 31 août 2022

Orders of the Day

Robert V. Callahan

Mitro Makarchuk

Carman McClelland

Members’ Statements

Events in Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke

Health care

108 Health Promotion Association

Gogama health services

Gerrie Kautz

Post-secondary education

School bus safety

COVID-19 response

Education

Islamic Society of Ajax

Introduction of Visitors

Question Period

Long-term care

Long-term care

Education funding

Community safety / Sécurité communautaire

Health care workers

Transportation infrastructure

Long-term care

Transportation infrastructure

Manufacturing jobs / Small business

Long-term care

Skilled trades

Tenant protection

Skilled trades

Health care funding

Affaires francophones

Mental health and addiction services

Deferred Votes

More Beds, Better Care Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 pour plus de lits et de meilleurs soins

Royal assent / Sanction royale

Introduction of Visitors

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

Petitions

Affordable housing

Government’s record

Health care

Health care funding

Social assistance

Housing

Social assistance

Economic development

Social assistance

Orders of the Day

Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 / Loi de 2022 pour favoriser le développement (mesures budgétaires)

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

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

Orders of the Day

Robert V. Callahan

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Robert V. Callahan, with five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Robert V. Callahan, with five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group. Agreed? Agreed.

Today we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Robert V. Callahan, who was the MPP for Brampton during the 33rd Parliament and Brampton South during the 34th and 35th Parliaments.

Joining us today in the Speaker’s gallery are members of Mr. Callahan’s family: his wife, Lyn Callahan; his sons Kevin Callahan, Peter Callahan, Timothy Callahan and Brian Callahan; his daughters-in-law Andrea Caskey, Cassandra Callahan and Cheryl Roth; and his grandchildren Emily Callahan, Ryan Callahan and Victoria Callahan. With them in the Speaker’s gallery is David Warner, the Speaker during the 35th Parliament.

I recognize the member for Durham.

Mr. Todd J. McCarthy: I would like to take a few moments to honour the late Bob Callahan. I’d like to begin by sharing a famous story that exemplifies who he was as a person. About a decade ago, Bob Callahan and some friends went downtown to catch a Toronto Maple Leafs game. On his way there, he was approached by a homeless man who asked if he had any change. Mr. Callahan did not have any change, but he had a $50 bill with him. In classic public servant Bob Callahan fashion, he gave the man the entire amount.

He then spent a few minutes talking to the man, and concluded the conversation with a legendary line: “Just remember, I’m Bob from Brampton.” This story tells you a lot about Bob Callahan and his 43 years serving in public life. This 43-year résumé makes him one of the longest-serving politicians in Canadian history.

Brampton Bob passed away at the age of 83 on Boxing Day, 2020.

Mr. Callahan was a Liberal member of provincial Parliament who had friends on all sides of the aisle—a truly well-respected man. In fact, Brampton had recently named one of its community centres the Bob Callahan Flower City Seniors Centre in his honour, just a few days before his passing.

Mr. Callahan is survived by the love of his life, Lyn, his wife and partner for 58 years. He was a loving father to his four sons and a loving grandfather to his seven grandchildren.

Bob had a reputation of never missing his sons’ or grandchildren’s games. That is why he will be remembered by his family as the best fan anyone could ask for.

Bob will be remembered for his humour; his genuine kindness; his humility; his care and concern for others, especially the most vulnerable; and his tireless service to the community.

I remember Bob, his wife, Lyn, and his sons at Thunder Beach over many summers, and I know that Bob’s memory is honoured as Lyn continues to cottage at Thunder Beach in recent summers.

Even when Brampton Bob was not involved in politics, he continued helping people through his legal practice focused on criminal law. Bob often said that a large percentage of his clients were simply victims of their circumstances. He not only provided his clients with legal representation, but he took an interest in helping them change the direction of their lives through rehabilitation, gaining access to further education, and improving their life skills.

In 1969, Bob put his name in the ring to run for Brampton council. This was the beginning of what would become a lifetime of proudly serving the people of Brampton. Bob saw Brampton grow from a small town of just 15,000 to the vibrant city it is today.

A fun fact about when Bob Callahan was first elected to council: He was not a councillor as we refer to such office-holders today, but instead an alderman. While serving on council, among many other things, he was instrumental in the development of the Peel Heritage Complex, the new city hall, the Rose theatre, the Gage Park skating trail, the Powerade Centre, South Fletcher’s hockey complex, and double tracking for GO trains.

He continued doing great work during his 10 years as member of provincial Parliament, championing the construction of the A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse as well as the Brampton Civic Hospital, and he was an outspoken leader for many social changes happening within the province at that time.

Bob Callahan was first elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly in 1985 for the riding of Brampton. He was re-elected in 1987 and again in 1990 for the new riding of Brampton South. Over the years, Bob served on various committees here. He was the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Select Committee on Health, the Standing Committee on Administration of Justice, and the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills. He also served as a member of the Standing Committee on General Government.

All in all, not only was Bob Callahan a tremendous public servant who dedicated his life to serving those in need, but he was also an inspirational human being, a mentor to many, a great legal mind, and a true parliamentarian in the best sense of that tradition.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next, the member for Algoma–Manitoulin.

Mr. Michael Mantha: I look up to the family this morning—and I didn’t personally know Bob. This is my first honour as a member to stand and provide a tribute to a previous member who was here, and I hope I do him justice for you.

Speaker, it’s an honour to rise in my place on behalf of the official opposition and offer a few words of reflection on the life and service of Bob Callahan.

When journalist Steve Paikin paid tribute to the late Bob Callahan in January 2021, he wrote, “Callahan exemplified some of the best that public life can showcase.” Powerful words.

But when you truly consider Bob’s life and his contributions to his community, it quickly becomes apparent that Paikin’s kind words, while true, don’t fully do justice to the impact the man jokingly known as “Bob from Brampton” had on his city and his family. If you were to drive through Brampton, Bob Callahan Flower City Seniors Centre is an obvious tribute to Bob’s many years of faithful service.

But if you took a closer look, it becomes apparent that Bob’s legacy looms large over the Rose City, both in the iconic—such as the Rose theatre, city hall, the Alderlea, and Gage Park skating trail—and the essential public works like GO service expansion, Brampton Civic Hospital, and the A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse. And those are only a few of the Brampton landmarks that Bob played a role in bringing to life.

In fact, Bob’s 43 years of provincial and municipal service almost seem like a timeline of Brampton’s rapid rise from a small rural town to one of Canada’s most diverse and rapidly growing communities.

After two unsuccessful runs for provincial office in 1977 and 1981, he finally made it to Queen’s Park in 1985, when voters chose him to be Brampton’s MPP, following the retirement of the incomparable Bill Davis—the first time someone other than Davis had represented the city in three decades. Knowing he had big shoes to fill, Bob went to work, mindful but undaunted, building on his many years of experience in municipal politics to become an effective voice for Brampton while carving out a formidable legacy of his own, earning the respect of political allies and opponents alike.

After his defeat in 1995, Bob returned to municipal politics, driven by his love for Brampton and his passion for public service.

A man of faith, Bob lived his life by the golden rule, treating others as he would want to be treated. This belief guided him as powerfully during his years as a criminal defence lawyer, when he worked with clients to rebuild their lives and offered his services and expertise pro bono to those in need, as it did during his time in elected office, which he treasured greatly for its opportunity to bring positive change to the lives of Bramptonians.

Bob’s commitment to Brampton also stretched beyond the council chamber and Queen’s Park, including volunteer roles coaching lacrosse and service on the boards of St. Leonard’s House, Peel Memorial Hospital, and the Credit Valley Conservation Authority.

Speaker, as elected officials, we owe so much to our families for their love, support and sacrifices they make over the course of our careers in office. But taking a look at Bob’s obituary, it is clear that he had his priorities right. Those closest to him remember him not for his long lists of political accomplishments, of which there were many, but for the lasting and loving impact his life made on those he held dear. It’s clear that Bob put first things first and understood his legacy as a husband, father, grandfather and friend was no less important than his contribution as a politician. All of us who are elected would be well served by following a similar path.

To the members of the Callahan family with us today and to those watching on television or online, thank you for sharing Bob with Brampton and Ontario and for the sacrifices you made throughout his many years of service. This honour belongs to you just as much as it does to him.

In closing, Speaker, Bob wasn’t just from Brampton; Bob was Brampton, and we are all better for it.

Thank you, Bob. You were an exemplary man, an exemplary person of service. Rest well.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Ottawa South.

Mr. John Fraser: It’s an honour to pay tribute to Bob Callahan, best known as “Bob from Brampton,” member of provincial Parliament for Brampton and Brampton South from 1985 to 1995.

Welcome, to his family. We’re so happy that you can be here.

I didn’t know Bob, but in preparing this tribute, I got to know the kind of person that Bob was, his qualities.

As a politician, he remembered these golden rules: Never forget where you came from, who sent you and what they sent you to do. Bob’s accomplishments, which were so great, in building up his community and building up the community we have here in the Legislature demonstrated to me that he never, ever forgot that.

Bob was a hard worker throughout his life, in his education, activities in the community.

And after serving here for 10 years, he went back to serve on Brampton council for 17 years, having served there 10 years before he got here. I’m not sure many of us would have that kind of stamina or endurance for political life. It can be a little corrosive at times, but it didn’t wear Bob down.

At a time when most people are slowing down, Bob appeared to be speeding up—or, at least, not slowing down.

From what I’ve read and what I understand, he was a man of deep faith, and that was evident. He led a very centred life, focused on others, wherever he was. I imagine him going to St. Basil’s church, just a block away from here, where I like to go in the mornings. Being in this place requires you to be centred, and Bob knew what he had to do to achieve that.

My father, like Bob, worked in criminal justice, and he used to say two things: Nothing replaces a genuine interest in people, and people can and will change and the effort to help them do so is worthwhile. I can imagine Bob saying those two things as well, after learning what I’ve learned over the last couple days.

Steve Paikin told a story, which we’ve heard this morning, of Bob being stopped on the street on the way to a hockey game by a man asking for money. All he had was $50, which he gave to the man. He also took the time to talk to him, to show a genuine interest in him, and said to him, “Just remember, I’m Bob from Brampton.” A year later, going to another hockey game, he heard someone shout, “Hey, it’s Bob from Brampton.” It was the same guy. The man remembered him not just because of the money, but because Bob took the time; he listened. I don’t think that was the only time that happened. It happened many times during Bob’s life.

I like to find somebody who sat with the member we’re giving tribute to, and I was lucky enough to get in touch with my old boss Premier Dalton McGuinty. I asked him if he had something to share with Bob’s family. He has written quite a bit, so I had to cut this down a little bit, and I want to apologize to him. Here’s what he had to say:

“Bob embodied that lovely quality that never goes out of style, decency. He was a decent man.

“Bob Callahan was a proud Liberal. But his decency led him to respect and enjoy his colleagues on all sides of this Legislature.

“Bob worked hard on behalf of his constituents and, along the way, encountered the usual frustrations in politics. It was his decency that led him to uphold respect for this place and all our democratic institutions.

“Life can wear us down and rob us of our youthful idealism. Life’s inevitable hard knocks can force us onto the sidelines. We can give up on others and turn inwards ...

“Not Bob.

“Bob devoted an amazing and inspiring 43 years of his life to meeting the needs of others through public service. It would be perfectly understandable for ‘Bob from Brampton,’ the name he gave himself, to have become cynical ... to have grown tired and tainted by what can be a corrosive experience.

“But that wasn’t Bob.

“Bob brought unfailing decency and honour to his political responsibilities. He was devoted to his community and, through his good example, reminds us all that the reward of public service is to be found in the service itself.”

To his wife, Lyn; his sons, Kevin, Peter, Timothy and Brian; their spouses; and all of Bob’s grandchildren: I know that you miss your husband, your father and your grandfather. Bob from Brampton led an incredible life of public service to his community, and that incredible life was possible because you shared him with us. That’s something that we ask from all our families and something that we are all so grateful for. Thank you.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We give thanks for the life and public service of Bob Callahan.

Mitro Makarchuk

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Mitro Makarchuk, with five minutes allotted to independent members as a group, five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s government, and five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Mitro Makarchuk, with five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group, five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s government, and five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition. Agreed? Agreed.

Today we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Mitro Makarchuk, who was the MPP for Brantford during the 28th, 30th and 31st Parliaments. Joining us today in the Speaker’s gallery is Mr. Makarchuk’s family: his sister, Lisa Makarchuk; his brother-in-law, James Love; his nephew, Darwin Milian Valdez; and his friend Honora Dines. Also in the Speaker’s gallery is Mr. David Warner, the Speaker during the 35th Parliament.

I recognize the member for Orléans.

Mr. Stephen Blais: I’m honoured to stand and say a few words on behalf of my colleagues in the Liberal caucus on the life and work of Mitro “Mac” Makarchuk, the former member of provincial Parliament for Brantford.

Mac, as described by his younger sister, Lisa, was a true character, an inveterate and generous party thrower and partygoer and a genial rabble-rouser. I think that legacy is still alive and well in this place today for a few of our colleagues.

Mac was born in northern Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents who emigrated from Ukraine. Growing up through the Great Depression, like so many others, their family was poor, and Mac would recall always being hungry for lunch. I’m sure that these experiences no doubt played a formational role and were a formational aspect of his future political ideologies.

From his humble beginnings growing up on his parents’ farm, he left his family at the age of 17 to embark on a new chapter, one where he could grow, learn and make his parents proud.

Mac had an eclectic professional life, to say the least, I think. He served in both the navy and the air force, which I’m sure made the rivalry games very difficult for him. He was a boat builder; he was a journalist; he was a Brantford alderman; and of course, he was a member of provincial Parliament.

At one point, Mac was even a budding sports executive, offering to underwrite a collegiate hockey championship between the western Canadian champions and the eastern Canadian champions. In true western form, Saskatchewan’s native son convinced the Huskies to accept the offer, but it was the Toronto Varsity Blues who turned him down, and so the championship never got off the ground.

Out of all of his professional work, Mac’s entrance into public life, into politics, I think is the most interesting. Certainly, how he first became an NDP candidate was very interesting when I read about it. As a journalist, Mac was assigned to cover the local NDP nomination race. Well, as it turns out, there was no candidate in the nomination race, so when he showed up he put his name forward, and he won. He then went back to work and wrote the story about his victory for the newspaper. I’m sure that’s the kind of press we would all like to get every once in a while for ourselves.

So that’s how his journey with the NDP started, in the 1965 federal election. He ended up losing that election, but that was just the start of Mac’s journey in politics.

He became the provincial NDP candidate in the following year’s provincial election and was successful. In fact, he was still working at the Expositor newspaper at the time. He asked for a leave of absence to run the campaign. They refused, and so they fired him. Well, he ultimately won that election for MPP in Brantford in 1967, and after he won, crowds of people went to the head office of the Expositor and chanted, “You fired him, and we hired him.” They were chanting outside the newspaper in celebration. I think that’s a brilliant way to start off your political career. And certainly he had a great deal of success.

He served one term as MPP and then served on Brantford city council as an alderman in 1972. He eventually returned to the Legislature in 1975 and was re-elected again in 1977, eventually leaving this place in 1981. Throughout his time, Mac never failed to speak up for his constituents, either here at the Legislature or at city hall.

Outside of his professional life, he loved to travel the world with his wife, Carolynne, and he always enjoyed a nice glass of wine and fine dining.

To his loving wife, Carolynne; his sister, Lisa; his brother-in-law, James; his nieces, Tanya and Michele; and his nephew, Darwin: Thank you for sharing Mac with the people of Ontario.

Rest in peace.

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

Mr. Will Bouma: It is an honour to rise in this great House to pay tribute to the life of a colleague who once represented my riding. Today, Speaker, I’m going to spend a few moments to remember and give my respects to Mitro Makarchuk, MPP for Brantford, who was affectionately known simply as Mac.

Joining us here today are Mac’s sister, Lisa Makarchuk; his brother-in-law, James Love; his nephew, Darwin Milian Valdez; his friend Honora Dines; and, of course, former Speaker David Warner. I welcome you all here today.

Mac passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. True to character until the end, Mac waited to pass until a few minutes after an extended family and friend visit.

He was born in 1929 in northern Saskatchewan to hard-working parents who had emigrated the previous year from Ukraine.

In addition to his many different interests, Mac had a long, varied and adventure-filled life as an MPP for the New Democratic Party; a city councillor for Brantford; a journalist; an inveterate and generous party thrower and partygoer; boat builder, cruiser and charterer; Royal Canadian Navy seaman and Royal Canadian Air Force flight lieutenant stationed in various places in the world.

After leaving school, Mac decided to try his hand at journalism and joined the news team at the Brantford Expositor. One day in 1965, he was sent to cover a nomination for the local NDP, which didn’t have a candidate—as we’ve already heard. Nobody was running, so Mac offered himself as the candidate. He ended up losing that federal election, but he was nominated to the provincial NDP and elected to represent Brantford here at the Ontario Legislature in 1967, serving one term. Mac was elected to Brantford city council as an alderman in 1972. He returned to the Legislature in 1975 and was re-elected in the 1977 election.

He lost his seat in 1981 to PC candidate Phil Gillies, who would be a cabinet minister, and who, to this day, is my friend and mentor. Phil Gillies ran against Mac twice. In the 1977 election, Mac came out on top. And in 1981, it was Phil Gillies who won.

After Gillies was himself defeated in 1987, he went to a gathering at the old Press Club on Wellesley Street. With some other now-former MPPs, Phil climbed the stairs to the club. He was enjoying the evening at the bar, but Mac Makarchuk—I’m told Mac looked at Phil and said, “Welcome to the alumni association. It took you long enough. Come on, let’s have a drink.

This was the disposition of Brantford–Brant politics, regardless of party affiliation. The camaraderie of public service always comes first.

After Mac Makarchuk left the Legislature in 1981, he dove into some really interesting business projects, one of which was the construction of a large tour boat to accommodate meetings, tourists and parties in Toronto harbour. He also built a personal yacht that led to some media questions. When the Globe and Mail interviewed Mac about this, the reporter asked, “How do you reconcile being a socialist-leaning politician and owning a $2-million boat?” Mac replied, “I’m still a socialist. I think everybody should have one of these.”

He was active in the anti-nuclear-arms movement. He supported various political and environmental organizations and was actively engaged with all of them.

With his wife, Carolynne, he was a global traveller through dozens of countries. He sunned in the tropics, and he enjoyed good wine, fine dining, and conversation, especially if it was political.

He was one of a kind—charismatic and imbued with a boundless sense of humour. He had a powerful influence on everyone around him. He turned political adversaries into lifelong, trusted friends. He had the ability to turn dreams into reality.

Mac was certainly one of a kind and leaves behind a legacy of working across the aisle for the people he once represented, and I currently represent, in Brantford–Brant.

He used his charisma to get things done, and he championed the creation of the Doug Snooks community centre in the Eagle Place community in Brantford.

Even though he retired from politics four decades ago, his name is mentioned with affection, respect and fondness not only in Brantford–Brant but at MPP alumni gatherings throughout southern Ontario.

In conclusion, on behalf of the government of Ontario and the riding of Brantford–Brant—and I know I speak for many former MPPs who served in this grand House alongside Mac—I salute you, sir, for your service to Ontario. Thank you for serving the people of Brantford–Brant with professionalism, style and respect.

And to Mac’s family who have joined us, thank you for loaning him to the people of Ontario for so many years.

You will be remembered as a journalist, an MPP, a city councillor, a shipbuilder, a businessman, and a compassionate, caring man who wanted to figure out what binds us together rather than what drives us apart. For all of that, Mac, we respect and salute you.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Timiskaming–Cochrane.

Mr. John Vanthof: It’s an honour today to pay tribute to Mitro “Mac” Makarchuk on behalf of the official opposition, the people of Ontario, and on behalf of our party—the party he served with such distinction.

Before I begin, I’d like to welcome Mac’s friends and family to the Legislature. His many successes speak to the love and support of those closest to him. In particular, running for office and serving as an MPP is a group project, so it’s an honour to have you here as we celebrate his contributions to the Legislature and to the province.

I never had the opportunity to meet Mac, but as I read this, there are many similarities that make me wish I had, and we will touch on some of them.

Mac was the kind of person who wouldn’t be kept down. He trusted his instincts, fought for what he believed in, and made a point of having lots of fun along the way.

As a child, his family struggled to settle themselves in Canada after emigrating from Ukraine—my parents emigrated from Holland; I can understand that—and there were days he went hungry for lunch. I will never eat liver, because we ate a lot of liver. Even still, he occupied himself by constructing a radio and building a darkroom.

At 17, when he decided to expand his horizons beyond his family farm in rural Saskatchewan—and that touched me, because at 17, I had to decide whether to keep the family farm or move on, and I made a decision different than his, but I respect the decision. He first joined the navy and then the air force as a pilot and a parachute jumper. It takes a special kind of person to volunteer for those jobs, and throughout his life, he proved time and time again that he wasn’t afraid to make the jump.

When he left the University of Toronto after two years, he quickly pivoted to a career in journalism. One day, when he was covering an NDP nomination meeting and saw that nobody was running, he threw his own hat in the ring. I was also one of the most unlikely NDP candidates ever, except for him.

He lost his first race, as did I, but as was his way, he didn’t let that setback stop him—not even when he was forced to choose between running for office and his job with the newspaper. In fact, he later said that getting fired by the Expositor was the best thing to ever happen to him.

He won that election in 1967 and then won again in 1975, at which time he took on the role of whip for the NDP. As current whip for the NDP, I know he had to have a sense of humour.

After being re-elected in 1977, he lent his expertise in housing and urban affairs as critic for regional development and planning.

Mac was prescient in the causes he advocated for, including his support for environmental organizations and the anti-nuclear-arms movement. He also never overlooked the local projects that make people’s everyday lives better. From championing the creation of a new community centre to offering to personally underwrite a national university hockey championship, he did what he could to make life more joyful for everyone around him.

While most people would stop there, as if that were not enough, he also built a yacht while he was serving as an MPP. I give him credit for that. Nobody was ever going to put Mac in a box. He would always surprise you.

After his career in politics, he reinvented himself once again. Mac built a successful business operating a charter boat and travelled the world with his wife. He filled his life with good food, good wine, good conversation and, of course, lots of laughter.

Mac truly lived life to the fullest. There are not a lot of people who can say that. He grew from humble beginnings as a child of new immigrants in the Prairies to become an air force parachutist, journalist, whip in a provincial Legislature, shipbuilder, entrepreneur and world traveller, all the while collecting many new friends. It’s the kind of story that movies should be made of. It’s the Canadian dream.

Where others might stay in their comfort zone, Mac went looking for adventure. Where others might be hindered by self-doubt, Mac embraced new challenges. Where others might just talk about the things that need fixing, Mac took action—truly a life well lived.

We thank you, Mac, for your service. May you rest in peace.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We give thanks for the life and public service of Mac Makarchuk.

Carman McClelland

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Sault Ste. Marie and chief government whip.

Mr. Ross Romano: Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find you will have unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Carman McClelland, with five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Sault Ste. Marie is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Carman McClelland, with five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group. Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the member for Brampton North.

Mr. Graham McGregor: I’m honoured here today to pay tribute to a former member of provincial Parliament for Brampton North, Mr. Carman McClelland. Carman McClelland passed away earlier this year, on June 1, and is survived by his children, Emma and Doug. He was born in 1951, in Angola, and soon after moved to Canada. Here, he was educated at York University and the University of Windsor faculty of law.

Mr. McClelland began leaving his legacy in Brampton early on. He was a resident of the city for over 25 years, and he was a practising lawyer in the city prior to seeking election. He also was a passionate advocate for his community. Mr. McClelland was a member of the local advisory board of the Canada Community Development Project, and he was chairman of the local advisory board for the summer 1981 Canada Student Employment Program. He was also a member of the Rotary Club of Bramalea, and he was on the board of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities.

Carman McClelland was first elected to the then new riding of Brampton North on September 10, 1987, under Liberal Premier David Peterson, just a few weeks before his 36th birthday. This was the first election for a city once represented by one riding by somebody who will be known in this House, former Premier Bill Davis, after it was divided into two ridings, Brampton South being the other riding in Brampton. Ultimately, it was represented by Liberal MPP Robert “Bob” Callahan.

Carman was re-elected in 1990 and sat as an opposition MPP until he lost his seat in the 1995 election, after which he returned to his law practice.

There are a few parallels that I can draw between myself and Mr. McClelland, both of us having been raised in Brampton and taking it upon ourselves to put our names on the ballot and stand up for the people of our great city.

Some of his key priorities when seeking election were transportation and health care for Brampton, which are also my two key priorities as I stand here in the House today, and what I promised to be a champion for on behalf of my community. Ultimately, I think it led to my election and the election of my other Brampton colleagues here in this House.

In 1987, after his election win, he said “a second health care facility” was his major concern. In 1987, the population of Brampton was 180,000 people, a time when it was growing quickly. It continues to grow today as a diverse city, with a population of over 650,000 but only one hospital. We’re still fighting for a second hospital here today.

Speaker, I think it is more than appropriate that I have the privilege to stand here today to speak about the great man, Carman McClelland. People like Mr. McClelland are the reason Brampton has become the city that it is today—home to people from all corners of the world, who come to our city and succeed in their respective fields.

Mr. Speaker, as members in this House will know, it’s not easy to seek public office, and it certainly doesn’t get easier once you’re successful—or it hasn’t yet, but I’m also new, so maybe give it some time. For some, the private sector calls their name. Carman McClelland, however, was eager to get back into politics and once again served the people of Brampton after his last election, this time in 2007 as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the now defunct Brampton–Springdale riding—an unsuccessful election at the time.

In 2008, Mr. McClelland tried his hand at municipal politics, running for regional councillor in Brampton wards 1 and 5. Although he did not find success in running for office after his second term in provincial politics, Carman’s desire, passion and commitment to the people of Brampton is exemplary. And that passion and commitment to the people of Brampton North is what I hope to bring to Queen’s Park myself.

Carman served two terms and served this province in numerous roles, as the Chair, Vice-Chair or a member of different committees. He was a critic. He was a parliamentary assistant to the Minister of the Environment. Filling so many roles across his two terms, he left his mark on this province, a record that his family should be very proud of.

After his first election in 1987, Carman thanked his supporters at the Brampton Briar Hill Recreation Centre while the theme song from Rocky played in the crowd. The legendary quote from Rocky rings in my head: “It’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward—how much you can take and keep moving forward.” It’s a quote we should all believe in.

We all have our time to go—and, for me, coming in as a new member, I think God places moments like these into our lives to remind us of our own brief time that we have, and our own mortality. As members, we have limited time in this chamber; as humans, it’s limited time on earth.

May we all leave such a mark on this Legislature but also in life, and live a life as rich as Carman did.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me the opportunity to speak here today in honour of a fellow Brampton boy I can look up to as I fight for the same city he did.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Timiskaming–Cochrane.

Mr. John Vanthof: It’s an honour to rise on behalf of the official opposition to pay tribute to Carman McClelland in acknowledgement of his years of service to the people of Brampton and Ontario. I’d like to acknowledge his family for this celebration of life. We know that public service poses unique challenges for the family members of those who hold office, and we both honour them and thank them for sharing Carman with Brampton and Ontario.

Carman brought a unique perspective to this place. As a child of missionaries, he spent many of his formative years abroad in Africa, moving to the then small town of Brampton in 1964 for his high school years.

Carman had a front-row seat to the rapid changes in Brampton, watching it transition from a small community of 20,000 in his teens to one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities. His riding alone, one of two in the city at the time, was nearly five times larger than the entire town of his youth, boasting over 95,000 residents during his time in office.

Carman loved Brampton and its people and took great pride in the things that made a fast-growing Brampton special. He always spoke very highly of the city’s diversity, its economic and social potential, and the unique characteristics that made Brampton North, in his words in this chamber, “one of the greatest communities in the province.”

Carman’s service to Brampton and its people went far beyond his time in elected office and was reflected in his volunteer work with his church; Rogers Cable 10; the William Osler health centre; The Bridge, which was an in-custody and release program; and the Brampton Youth Hockey Association, just to name a few.

During the 1987 election, Carman won easily in a campaign where improved transportation and a new hospital were top priorities for Brampton voters—issues that continue to resonate with the community some 35 years later.

Regardless of where he sat in this chamber, be it in the government benches or over here on the opposition side of the House, he never forgot the people who sent him to this special place, always bringing the challenges and triumphs of his beloved hometown to the floor of this Legislature.

Carman was a fierce advocate for improved health care in his city and pushed for increased services and access in Brampton North from both sides of the aisle.

He was also an outspoken voice for the environment, using his platform as an MPP to draw attention to issues like acid rain, landfill expansion and water quality.

After losing his bid for re-election in 1995, Carman returned to practising law in Brampton, though elected office never strayed far from his thoughts.

Carman re-emerged with a desire to serve, putting his name forward as a candidate for Brampton council in 2018. In an interview with the Brampton Guardian during the campaign, Carman spoke passionately about his desire to share his “experience and commitment to ‘servant leadership’” as part of an overall goal to help “build a better Brampton.” Though unsuccessful, it is clear that his passion for his city continued to play a prominent role in his life.

Thank you, Carman, for your service to Ontario. May you rest in peace.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Orléans.

Mr. Stephen Blais: It’s an honour to stand here in the Legislature on behalf of the Ontario Liberal caucus and pay tribute to former MPP Carman McClelland from Brampton North.

As has been stated, Mr. McClelland was born in Angola, Africa, in 1951, and after his family immigrated to Canada, he attended York University for his undergraduate degree. He later attended law school at the University of Windsor, and upon his graduation, he began to practise with the firm of Fogler, Rubinoff here in Toronto. He was also a board member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities.

Carman fell in love with Brampton, and it is where he chose to settle down and raise his family.

In those days, it wasn’t easy being a Liberal in Brampton. The Big Blue Machine was dominating provincial politics and, of course, Brampton was home of chairman Bill Davis. But the riding went red in 1985 and, in 1987, it would be split in two, and this is when Carman took his shot in the newly formed riding of Brampton North. Carman coasted to victory in Brampton North in 1987. He led through the advance polls and finished above the Tory candidate by nearly 7,000 votes. Being re-elected in 1990 in a squeaker, he bested the NDP candidate by only 98 votes. That’s a big swing, 7,000—I’m not sure my heart would take that kind of close election, Mr. Speaker.

His tenure in the Legislature was ended in 1995 with the Common Sense Revolution, and this is when he chose to return to his life as a lawyer. He also served as vice-president of the Peel Law Association executive committee and, later, he was president of the Brampton Board of Trade.

But politics was in his blood. Carman attempted a provincial comeback in 2007 and ran again municipally in 2018—and while unsuccessful, it was clear that his dedication to public service was at the core of his being.

He was an active member of the community, involved in local sports leagues, and he also served on the boards of many local clubs in Brampton. As has been mentioned, he was a member of the local advisory board for the Canada Community Development Project. He was vice-chairman of the local advisory board for the summer Canada Student Employment Program in 1981, and he was a dedicated member of the Bramalea Rotary Club.

Mr. Speaker, it’s without a doubt that Mr. McClelland cared deeply about his community—not just by advocating for them inside this Legislature, but through his extensive involvement in the community on local boards and with the board of trade.

On behalf of the Ontario Liberal caucus, I’d like to extend my sincerest thanks to his family—Karen, Emma, Doug; siblings, Brad and Sandy—for sharing Carman with us, sharing him with the people of Brampton.

May he rest in peace.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We are joined today in the Speaker’s gallery by Mr. McClelland’s family: his spouse, Karen McClelland, his son, Doug McClelland, and his son’s girlfriend, Mary Catherine McDonough McLennan.

We give thanks for the life and public service of Carman McClelland.

Orders of the day? I recognize the member for Barrie–Innisfil.

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: No further business.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): There being no further business at this time, this House stands in recess until 10:15 a.m.

The House recessed from 0953 to 1015.

Members’ Statements

Events in Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke

Mr. John Yakabuski: After a two-year absence, the fall fairs—which actually happened in the summer for the most part—have returned to the Ottawa Valley. The fairs are back, and in a big way.

It all began a few weeks ago, as it always does, with the Beachburg Fair—as Dai Bassett referenced in his song, “the first big summer fair.”

That was followed by a new weekend fair in Arnprior called the Valley Agricultural Festival.

This past weekend, as I did in Beachburg and Arnprior, I opened the 163rd Cobden Fair.

And coming up the second weekend in September will be the 167th edition of what we call the greatest fair in the Ottawa Valley, the Renfrew Fair.

While every one of these fairs is unique in its own way, they all have two things in common: They bring communities together, and each one of them has agriculture at its roots. While today there is something for everyone, including midways, horse draws, live entertainment and smash-up derbies, the heart of our fairs is still the farm and the families who work so hard to put food on our tables.

When attending these fairs, I can’t help but think how much they’ve changed over the years but how much people still anticipate going to the fair with their families, rubbing shoulders with and enjoying the company of friends and neighbours in such an enjoyable environment. While always being open to the reality of changing times, by holding fast to the traditions that made them a must-see, must-attend event so many years ago—it’s what makes our county fairs so special and gives me confidence that they’ll still be around 100 years from now.

Health care

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: On a daily basis, my office receives emails and phone calls from constituents about the health care system, from doctor shortages to excessive wait times in the ER, and about this government’s Bill 7, More Beds, Better Care Act, demanding public hearings take place.

Bryan sent me an email and asked me to get his story out there, because he says he’s not alone. His daughter is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience, and she has seen the health care system crumble. Bryan is an 82-year-old senior. His doctor has just retired. He signed up with Health Care Connect, and all he was offered were phone numbers to call doctors’ offices in hopes that they were accepting patients. He couldn’t get through to speak to doctors and fill out applications, and he has heard nothing.

He is being forced to monitor his own health—blood pressure, arranging blood samples to check cholesterol, and, as a cancer survivor, his blood count. He is attending an urgent care clinic just to have his prescriptions filled. He also has a pacemaker, and—lucky for him—he’s monitoring by downloading an app. Bryan has been living in London for 51 years, and he feels like a senior who has been cast out in an open boat. This is beyond shameful.

It’s time to fix the health care system, and the NDP has put forth solutions.

Will this government finally agree to reinstate the Practice Ready Assessment Program for internationally trained doctors and nurses, and repeal Bill 124 to give health care workers the pay and incentives and respect they deserve? Yes or no?

108 Health Promotion Association

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Speaker, I rise in the chamber today to inform you of an important organization in my riding of Newmarket–Aurora that is making a positive impact on the lives of seniors. It is called the 108 Health Promotion Association. It is our local Chinese community organization. Their president, Mr. Nan Zhou, named it “108,” as he wants to help their members live to 108 years of age. Their vision is to support healthy aging and culturally appropriate community programs that encourage physical activity and mental well-being.

Current programming includes yoga, health-related workshops, singing and dance clubs, as well as seasonal vegetable cultivation workshops, and a training course on preventing the elderly from falling.

At the beginning of 2021, I am proud to say that 108 was a recipient of our government’s Seniors Community Grant Program. Through this funding, they were able to help older adults and seniors in our community stay mentally and physically healthy during COVID-19. They transformed their programming to a digital format to continue social interaction within the community of 2,000-plus seniors, promoting healthy and safe engagements.

This past Saturday, I was honoured to be invited to the 108 family bonding event. There was a barbecue and a dragon dance, as well as a Chinese waist drum dance and many other forms of entertainment for the entire family.

Seniors are and will always be important members of our communities. We must take care of them and each other as we grow as a province.

Gogama health services

M me France Gélinas: There’s this beautiful community in Nickel Belt called Gogama. They are about an hour and a half south of Timmins, and about two and a half hours north of Sudbury. The only access for the good people of Gogama to our health care system is through a nursing station. The nursing station has been there for decades, giving all of the residents of Gogama—I must tell you, though, that over 60% of them are over the age of 65, and they gain access to our health care system through the nursing stations.

Unfortunately, tomorrow, September 1, the nursing station will close. They were given notice that the nursing station would close on September 1, which means that all means of access to health care will stop.

I have approached the Minister of Health to see what can be done to make sure that the people of Gogama continue to have access to a full-time nurse practitioner in their community so that they have what we call equity of access.

Do we do a double lung transplant in Gogama? No, we don’t. But we need a full-time nurse practitioner working in Gogama so that the people of Gogama can gain access to the health care system.

I was talking to Dan Mantha yesterday. He needs to go to a walk-in clinic in order to gain access, an hour away from his home.

The minister has to get on this file. She has to sign a new agreement so the nursing station stays open.

Gerrie Kautz

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Mr. Speaker, it’s with a heavy heart that I rise today. On August 19, 2022, Gerrie Kautz—father, grandfather, friend, colleague, and one of my closest mentors—passed away peacefully and quickly at the age of 84 in Ottawa. Gerrie will be lovingly missed and cherished by his daughter, Cammie Ritchie, and grandson, Marshall Ritchie. Gerrie’s many friends and colleagues will remember the memories of happy times together for years to come.

Gerrie was born in Winnipeg and grew up in the southern Manitoba town of Ridgeville.

In 1956, he entered the Royal Roads Military College as a navel cadet, moving on to the University of Manitoba, where he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

After a wonderful career in the military, Gerrie’s second career was spent in international marketing, where he conducted business in over 40 countries.

He retired in 1998 to help care for his wife, Edna-May “Eddie” Kautz. During this time, Gerrie worked for over 10 years as a business and marketing consultant. He was also an author, with over eight published books in Canada and the USA. His golden years were spent happily helping and sharing his vast business knowledge and support, sitting on local committees, assisting local businesses, building and organizing community associations, and volunteering his time and services to charity events, including assisting me on my campaign as part of my election campaign committee team.

He was an active and dedicated member and pillar in the Greely area and beyond.

I’d like to express my sincere condolences to Cammie Ritchie, his family, and the entire Greely community on this loss. My condolences.

Post-secondary education

Ms. Marit Stiles: This week, I had the great pleasure of dropping off my second child at university—quite a momentous occasion, I know, for a lot of us. I want to use this opportunity to speak to all the parents who are sending off their kids to new beginnings in our post-secondary educational institutions. It’s a difficult time. It’s a really important time. And I know, personally, what an emotional time it is, too.

I want to also speak to the government for a moment about what our post-secondary students need at this moment.

A lot of our kids struggled over the last two years under closures during COVID, whether at post-secondary institutions or in our schools. A lot of our kids are struggling young people today—struggling to find truly affordable housing—and a lot of families are struggling to put together the supports they need for their kids through this difficult time.

So I encourage the government to use this opportunity, as we head into this new school year, to support our post-secondary institutions, to support our post-secondary students, to support our faculty members who have really struggled in this time—and to encourage the government to be there, to reduce the tuition levels for our students, and support families today more than ever.

School bus safety

Mr. Mike Harris: Next week, over 800,000 students across Ontario will once again be taking the bus to school every day. In Waterloo region, nearly 30,000 students take the bus to school.

Starting next week, Ontario will join every other state and province in North America when our school buses will be picking up our students with the safer dual amber-red warning light system. Until now, Ontario was the only jurisdiction in North America to not use amber warning lights to let drivers know school buses are about to come to a stop. Think of it as a stoplight that suddenly went from green to red. Now imagine every pedestrian at that crazy intersection being a child.

Provincial data estimates that there are roughly 17,000 incidents involving drivers who blow by stopped school buses every day across our province. A pilot program in Waterloo region found that there were nearly 500 to 700 blow-bys each week. School bus drivers know this all too well. In a recent CTV News article, Jen Mazer, a certified driving instructor with Switzer-Carty transport, was quoted to say, “I had a frequency of at least three cars a day passing my red lights when I was stopping trying to” let schoolchildren off the bus.

Thank you to members from all parties who unanimously supported my private member’s bill. This common-sense change will save lives. In that spirit, let’s all do our part to keep our kids safe by driving carefully every day, but especially during the school year.

COVID-19 response

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: I rise today asking the government to end the patchwork of approaches to in-person learning at colleges and universities.

Several families impacted by recent policy changes at some schools contacted my office. The families are aware rules are to be followed, but they question why these policies were not advertised prior to acceptance letters being issued. These institutions knowingly accepted tuition payments between the beginning and middle of August and then, last week, changed the rules. Remember playing games with the kids who changed the rules partway through? It’s inappropriate, it’s irresponsible, and I would go as far as to say it’s disingenuous. Even for those students who wish to comply, the timing may make it difficult.

Instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, which made COVID-19 vaccination policies mandatory in post-secondary institutions, were revoked on March 1, 2022. I question why some institutions are adding the stress to the lives of students at a time when they are already anxious. Why is Western University the only Canadian university mandating boosters?

I know the government will say it does not meddle in the everyday operations of publicly supported institutions. However, government has, in the past, waded in to correct patchwork policies, especially at the municipal level.

These young people are our future leaders. These are the same young people who have missed out the past three years. These students need assurance the rules will not continue to change.

Speaker, I call on this government to ensure Ontario students are treated fairly and consistently, no matter where they choose to learn in Ontario.

I also wish all students across the province all the very best this school year.

Education

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Tuesday, September 6 is back-to-school day in the province of Ontario. We have over two million elementary school students and secondary school students who are going back to school after two years of pandemic disruptions that they went through with their parents. Now is the time for us to get back to normal.

I want to thank the Minister of Education, on behalf of parents like me and parents across the province, for making it absolutely clear that we want our kids in school, in person, full-time, with sports and a full array of extracurricular activities. We want for our children the full school experience.

Let me take this opportunity now to wish all the students and staff members across the province of Ontario, and especially my folks in Essex county, a very successful academic school year.

Islamic Society of Ajax

Ms. Patrice Barnes: I rise today to say it’s an honour to represent the people of Ajax.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending a family fun day put on by the Islamic Society of Ajax. The Islamic community and faith-based groups continue to grow and build strong ties within our community.

The Islamic Society of Ajax completed construction for the first masjid in the town of Ajax in 2016. The masjid is located on Harwood and is led by imam Waqqas Syed.

The Ajax masjid has become a focal point for Muslims of Ajax. It is centrally located in the midst of the Muslim community and services the social, economic and recreational needs of that community.

The family fun day event this past weekend was tailored for families and children of all faiths, but they also put on events for our seniors.

A few weeks ago, they were able to take a group of seniors to Niagara Falls, and the tales and stories are amazing. These trips offer more than entertainment for our seniors, as it’s a chance to socialize and break out of norms, which has a huge benefit for their mental health. Social isolation among seniors is a growing issue, not just in Ajax, but across Ontario.

Groups and organizations like the Islamic Society of Ajax are some of the main reasons that the Ajax community is growing continually strong.

Under the Premier’s leadership, we hope this government will continue to encourage and support opportunities for these organizations that are playing an integral

part in our communities. I’m confident that our government’s continued involvement in organizations and groups like this will make Ontario a global destination to work, live and raise a family.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): In the Speaker’s gallery today, we have guests from the riding of Wellington–Halton Hills: a councillor from the township of Guelph/Eramosa, Mark Bouwmeester, and his son Casey Bouwmeester. Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

Also with us in the Speaker’s gallery is Anne Sargent, the deputy clerk of the legislative council of the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. Anne is visiting us over the next two days and will be meeting with me and assembly officials to discuss the operations of our respective Parliaments, in furtherance of the Ontario-Victoria partnership agreement established several years ago.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: We have a delegation from Nigeria—and this may be the nicest business card we’ve ever seen here; I’ll have to share it after. It is the business card of Minister Aliyu, the Honourable Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory. Welcome, Minister. And Ambassador Asekun, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada—welcome, sir.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, I want to welcome Bill McBain to the Legislature. Those in these ranks know this extraordinary organizer.

Bill, welcome to the House.

Mr. Logan Kanapathi: I would like to welcome Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, Honourable Minister of State in Abuja, Nigeria; and my good friend Ms. Bose Odueke, CEO of Alpha Oasis International Inc., who is organizing these wonderful delegates to Ontario, Canada; and members of Canada-Nigeria Business and Investment Expo 2022. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: I’d like to introduce Zoe MacKeracher from the riding of Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas. She’s a student at McMaster University. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I have a number of introductions to make today. First of all, I would like to introduce Raj Dam and his immediate and extended family, who are from my riding of Guelph. He’s also the associate director at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Christine Hogarth: It is my absolute honour and privilege, on behalf of Solicitor General Kerzner and PA Bailey, to welcome to the House the Peel Regional Police chief, Nishan Duraiappah, and the executive director of the Office of the Chief of Police, Charles Payette.

I want to thank you both. I want to thank the men and women in uniform. Under a Doug Ford government, we will always have your back.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: It’s a great honour today to welcome Dewitt Lee to the House. Dewitt is the founder of Emancipation Month Canada and helped all of us write the first bill in Ontario history supported by all four political parties, for Emancipation Month. He’s here for the flag-raising ceremony that will happen in the front yard at noon today, and also to celebrate the International Day for People of African Descent.

Dewitt, welcome to the Legislature today.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: I’d like to welcome a great Oakville resident and a young entrepreneur, Kristian Tazbazian.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I’d like to take the opportunity to introduce one of my team members, Kailie Oortwyn. She has been a member of my team for about three years. I want to tell her that we appreciate everything she has done for us and the residents of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock. I wish her all the best in her new adventure at the Ministry of Health.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome a new team member to Team St. Catharines, who was born on June 16, 2022, to his proud parents, Jesse and Kasey, and his proud big sister, Elise: Jack Reginald Michor. Welcome to our team.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: Speaker, I can’t let this moment pass without welcoming the first Tamil chief of police in Ontario, Nishan Duraiappah. I was just with you at Tamil Fest in Scarborough. Welcome to the Legislature today.

My friend Dewitt Lee, thank you so much for all you’ve done for the Black community in Canada and for bringing Emancipation Month to us here in the Legislature.

Also, Halima Patel, a constituency assistant, is here at Queen’s Park, watching these proceedings for the first time. Welcome, Halima Patel.

Ms. Patrice Barnes: I’d like to welcome to the Legislature a young man from my riding, Mugis Awon. He was instrumental in my campaign. He’s a very intelligent young man, just starting grade 10 of high school and already having great conversations about politics, education and what that will look like. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): It goes without saying that we welcome all of our visitors to the Legislature.

I would ask and remind members, when they’re making their introductions, to keep them brief and devoid of political statements.

Question Period

Long-term care

Mr. Peter Tabuns: To the Premier: Yesterday, the Premier was asked about the fees his government wants to impose on seniors to force them into long-term-care homes that they don’t want to go into. He said, “I’ll pretty well guarantee it’s not going to be $1,800.”

Will the Premier make an absolute guarantee today that no senior will be charged that fee?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, in fact, the only people who have been talking about a fee like that for seniors who are going into long-term-care homes have actually been the opposition. They’re the only ones who have talked about it—the Leader of the Opposition, the critic, and the members of the Liberal Party, and, of course, the media, but only as they’re reporting what they have been saying.

We have been saying right from the beginning that the goal of this is to ensure that those who are waiting to go into a long-term-care home, who have been discharged or are about to be discharged from a hospital, have a better opportunity, better outcomes. That is what this legislation was all about.

This is another step, yesterday was another step on the road to improving health care in the province of Ontario—a step that started with Ontario health teams, a step that continued with 58,000 new and upgraded long-term-care beds in every region of the province, with the addition of 27,000 health care workers for long-term care alone, with new hospitals in every part of the province. It is another step to making Ontario have the best health care system in the country and in North America.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Premier: Well, that didn’t sound like a guarantee from the Premier.

These numbers, these charges may not matter much to the Premier, but it’s literally a matter of life and death for many seniors across this province.

The government is ramming Bill 7 through today with virtually no debate. They refuse to hear from families and front-line workers who say this bill will be devastating.

And now the Premier is literally not giving any guarantees about what people will be charged.

If we can’t get a guarantee that $1,800 is not on the books—how much does the Premier think seniors should be charged?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To respond, the Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: Well, Mr. Speaker, it’s not about the cost; it’s about giving proper health care to people who should be in long-term-care homes. It’s differentiating between sticking your loved one in a hospital bed—imagine that: a hospital bed for one of your loved ones, when alarms are going off, bells are going off all night, compared to giving them a beautiful home to stay in, a long-term-care home, which will have proper care.

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the opposition: They were preaching at the top of the mountain, saying, “Get people out of the hospitals.” They kept going on and on, and many of them were quoted in the media. All of a sudden, now they change their tune. They can’t have it both ways.

The right place to put people who have been discharged from the doctor is in a proper home, for proper care, to make sure they have a better quality of life.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Premier: The Premier is charging ahead with changes that will devastate people’s lives, and he can’t even or won’t even answer basic questions about those changes. Seniors are being told that they will either have to move hundreds of kilometres away from their loved ones or they will have to pay huge fees, fees the Premier has either not figured out or is not willing to reveal.

Will the Premier do the right thing, admit that this dangerous scheme was rushed, and pull Bill 7 today?

Hon. Doug Ford: I’ve never, ever seen all CEOs agree across the province, all front-line health care people agree, all doctors agree—the only people who don’t agree with this plan is the NDP. They’re going back and forth every single day. They’re being political.

We aren’t being political. We’re making sure we’re taking care of the people who need support, who need patient care. They’re going to get much better care in a long-term-care facility than sitting in a hospital bed. Even one of the CEOs said this is not good for the ALC patients. What is good is to make sure they get the proper care, and that’s what we’re going to give them.

As the Minister of Long-Term Care said, we’re building 58,000 beds for these seniors.

Long-term care

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour le premier ministre.

At hearings held by the NDP this week, front-line health care workers sounded the alarm about the Ford government’s Bill 7. The bill does nothing to address the human resources crisis in our health care system, but it will force frail seniors into private long-term-care homes miles away from their circle of care and their family.

This raises the question: Is the goal of the bill to help patients, or is it to force frail, elderly seniors into private, for-profit long-term-care homes that no one wants to live in?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Paul Calandra: The members continue to do this. We heard the member from Windsor yesterday say that we were going to be sending people from Windsor to Timmins—completely not the case. We’ve heard them talk about huge fees—obviously, not the case.

They say that it’s a new problem, but let’s look at the Auditor General’s report of 2012: “Given our aging population, developing alternatives to long-term care and implementing more efficient processes for placing people in” long-term-care homes “in a consistent and timely manner is critical.”

She went on to say, “Numerous studies have shown that remaining in hospital longer than medically necessary, including waiting in hospital for” long-term care “can be detrimental to a person’s health for various reasons, among them the potential for a hospital-acquired infection such as C. difficile, and, for older patients, a decline in physical and mental abilities due to lack of activity.”

She went on to say that five provinces have a first-bed policy. This is back in a 2012 report, based on 2011.

What was done in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018? Nothing.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question? The member for Niagara Falls.

Mr. Wayne Gates: To the Premier: The long-term-care homes with the most available beds are the ones with the worst records of caring for seniors.

Orchard Villa is a private, for-profit long-term-care facility in Pickering where the Armed Forces found residents living in horrifying conditions. Durham police have not ruled out criminal charges. It’s no surprise that their wait-lists are short—literally 42 times shorter than not-for-profit homes of comparable size.

My question is, if a patient doesn’t want to be moved to a private facility like this, why would the government force them?

Hon. Paul Calandra: This is the very same member who said that we were going to be forcing people into three- and four-bed wards. Of course, that hasn’t been allowed in the province of Ontario since we made those changes, right, colleagues? It didn’t happen in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2018. It didn’t happen when they had the balance of power. It happened under this government. This is the same member who said we would be sending people thousands of kilometres away from their homes—not true. Not true—three- and four-bed wards. Not true—thousands of extra dollars.

What is true: more resources and better care. We’re standing up for seniors who want better care, who are on a long-term-care waiting list. They want to be in a home. Experts agree it is better to get that care in a long-term-care facility.

This is another step on the way to finally tackling the challenges in health care—that include staffing, that include more hospitals, that include better long-term-care homes.

They should get on board because the status quo is working for nobody.

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

Mr. Wayne Gates: Again to the Premier: Let’s be clear, 70 people died in this facility, over 100 staff got sick—soiled diapers, dehydration, cockroaches and flies everywhere.

Time and time again, the government has bent over backwards to support for-profit long-term care. They exempted them from legal liability, ignored their own commission’s call to eliminate profit in long-term care, and granted facilities like Orchard Villa licence renewals of 30 years, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Now they are literally threatening seniors with massive fees if they refuse to move to these homes. Does this government truly believe that this is fair to seniors and their families—as 5,000 people died under your watch in the last four years?

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

To reply, the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Under our watch, Mr. Speaker, we have seen the level of care increase in this province like it has never happened before. Under our watch, his own riding is getting $55 million more for care in the homes that he has. Under our watch, I have approved over 500 new long-term-care beds for people in his riding alone. Under our watch, investments in health care have grown to the highest level in Canadian history. Under our watch—a new hospital in Mississauga. Under our watch, small and medium-sized hospitals finally get budgets that are equivalent to large hospitals.

Under our watch—the largest investment in health care in Ottawa’s history. Under our watch—new hospitals in Niagara. Under our watch—four hours of care for seniors. Under our watch—58,000 new and upgraded long-term-care beds. Under our watch, we’ll get it done.

Education funding

Ms. Marit Stiles: This question is for the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, after a really tough two years, students are heading back to school next week in need of a lot of extra care and a lot of extra support. Thankfully, they’re going to get some of that support from dedicated education workers—from educational assistants to foodservice workers to the custodians who are keeping HVAC systems working.

Speaker, contracts with these CUPE workers are set to expire today. Will the Premier commit to hiring more education workers so that students have the services they need at this very crucial time?

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

Hon. Stephen Lecce: We can confirm that under this Progressive Conservative government we are actually increasing the amount of staff in this province by 3,000 more for this coming September—more custodians, more EAs, more ECEs and educators who make a difference in our schools. That is part of our vision for a more normal and, frankly, a much more stable September for these kids—yes, with more people in the schools.

In addition to more dollars, we’re asking for and expecting a higher standard for our kids. We need these children to be immersed in learning with a stable environment that keeps them there from September right to June in a normal, fulsome experience that includes the sports, the extracurriculars and clubs that produce the well-rounded leaders we all want.

Mr. Speaker, our intention for September is to ensure that these kids get back on track—with a learning recovery plan that invests over 650 million more dollars for this September, to ensure these kids are well supported and get back on track.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Mr. Speaker, the government talks about stability, but the only person risking disruption in this school year is this minister.

I want to go back to the Premier. The average income of these education workers is just $39,000 a year, and 91% report that they are facing financial hardship, and more than half of them have to take a second job just to make ends meet.

Will this Premier commit to a wage increase so that the workers who support our kids every single day can support their own families?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Yet again, the New Democrats and the Liberals abdicate their responsibility.

The member didn’t even ask the question setting the priority of keeping kids in school, which ought to be the priority of every MPP in this place. Mr. Speaker, our priority is ensuring stability for children. The question should focus on our kids. It’s about time the opposition starts to get on track with that imperative of stability for kids.

That’s why we’ve ensured more money is in place for September. It’s why we’ve been negotiating in good faith to land a fair deal for the workers but a good deal for our families. The principle that we’re going to communicate to the union, to the board of trustees and the people of the province is: We’ll stand up for stability for your children.

Community safety / Sécurité communautaire

Ms. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: My question is for the Solicitor General.

Speaker, Peel has experienced an increased number of gun-related crimes—and I would also like to welcome Chief Nish and Director Payette of Peel police, and congratulate our brave men and women in uniform from Peel on leadership on issues like combatting human trafficking, mental health and community safety.

Interjections.

Ms. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: Yes, thank you.

Unfortunately, it is not rare to hear the news about innocent Ontarians being caught in a crossfire, both figuratively and literally.

Monsieur le Président, Mississauga a connu une augmentation de la violence et de la criminalité des gangs.

What is the Solicitor General doing to combat gang-fuelled violence and smuggled guns in Peel?

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: I appreciate the member from Mississauga Centre’s question.

Monsieur le Président, tous ont le droit de se sentir en sécurité chez eux et dans leur collectivité.

We’re working with law enforcement agencies across the province to keep Ontario safe, and our government has invested over $200 million to combat gun and gang violence. This unprecedented investment includes $6 million for CCTV cameras for municipalities and First Nations. And we’re investing over $267 million through the Community Safety and Policing Grant program to help police services address priority issues in their community.

Monsieur le Président, notre gouvernement a renforcé la sécurité publique, du premier au dernier échelon.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary? The member for Brampton West.

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: My question is for the Solicitor General.

My constituents in Brampton West are deeply concerned about crime in Peel, especially when smuggled guns and illicit drugs are involved. Every day, Mr. Speaker, they hear on the news about the gang violence fuelled by smuggled guns and drugs.

Can the minister tell us about our government’s plan to combat the drug flow in Peel?

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: I really am happy that we have the question from the member from Brampton West, because this is an important question.

Community safety is a top priority, not just for those who work in and support Ontario’s policing services, but for all Ontario families.

Since our government came to office, we’ve invested over $17 million in grants for policing in Peel region alone. In fact, yesterday, the Peel Regional Police announced the results of outstanding work on Project Warrior. Peel Regional Police used the funding provided by the Ministry of the Solicitor General, combined with excellent investigative work, to take a staggering $12 million of illicit drugs off the street.

I want to congratulate chief—

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

L’hon. Michael S. Kerzner: —la sécurité de notre province.

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

The next question.

Health care workers

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: My question is to the Premier.

Sabrina and her husband, Jack, are both registered nurses. Their four-year-old daughter, Hazel, lives with type 1 diabetes and is starting junior kindergarten in September. In what should be a time of excitement for a young family, Sabrina will have to take an unpaid leave of absence to administer medication to her daughter at school. Hazel is on a wait-list. There is not one single community nurse available who can come into the classroom each day and assist Hazel with managing her needs.

Premier, we are in the midst of a staffing crisis. With this province already short 30,000 nurses, will this government commit to more community nurses for schools so health care workers like Sabrina and Jack aren’t forced to choose between their families and their jobs?

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

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I love being able to highlight all of the work that our government is doing to increase the number of health human resources who practise and work in the province of Ontario.

There is no doubt that across Canada, and indeed the world, we are experiencing shortages in our critically important health care system.

However, what we have seen here in Ontario is that by investing $35 million to increase enrolment in nursing education programs, we are actually expanding spaces to introduce over 1,130 new practical nurses and 870 registered nurses into the health care system.

I’ve been working with the College of Nurses of Ontario to make sure that individuals who have applied to practise and work in the province of Ontario get those applications reviewed and expedited quickly. We’ll continue to do this because people like Sabrina need to have that confidence that when their young daughter goes to school, they have the resources they need to make sure her diabetes is monitored and they’re looked after.

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

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Back to the Premier, through the minister: Increasing nurses at this time for Jack and Sabrina doesn’t help. They’re RNs. They’re nurses. Their workplace will be short now that they have to go and look after their daughter.

During the pandemic, we saw that working mothers became the default parent, leaving their jobs to manage virtual learning during a time when daycares and schools were closed. Now nursing shortages have trickled down to the education sector. Every child has the right to equal access to education, and every parent deserves to know their child has the care they need when they need it—without sacrificing their career.

Premier, will your government commit to a plan to ensure working mothers like Sabrina are not forced out of a workplace that is already in a severe crisis to fill gaps within an already broken system?

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

Hon. Stephen Lecce: I want to thank the member for the question.

We do agree; these children should have access to the practitioners they need wherever they are. That’s why, two years ago, working with the Minister of Finance, under the Premier’s leadership, we actually doubled the number of public health nurses who work in our schools—640 public health nurses working in schools—

Interjection: Where are they? Name one.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: The members opposite pose the question, “Where are they?”

At a time when front-line workers are making a difference in our schools and our communities, we should be grateful for their contributions to our kids and to our communities. It’s precisely why we more than doubled the allocation. It’s why we increased investments overall for special education by an additional $90 million for this year. It is now at the highest levels ever recorded in the history of this province, because we want those kids to get the services they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, we’re going to continue to increase investments, increase access to staff and practitioners, and work with the Minister of Health across ministries to improve the services for the kids of this province.

Transportation infrastructure

Mr. Graham McGregor: This question is for the Minister of Transportation.

The cost of road congestion continues to take its toll on my constituents and their quality of life. Congestion impacts Ontario’s economy, with billions of dollars a year in lost time, wasted fuel and delayed deliveries. Other costs include greenhouse gas emissions, accidents, and poorer health—since people perpetually stuck in traffic report lower life satisfaction and physical activity.

Experts and academics have already warned that Ontario’s transportation infrastructure is not ready for the incoming surge of new Ontarians in the next 20 years. The status quo is not sustainable, especially if every new Ontarians decides to hop into a car during rush hour.

What actions is the Minister of Transportation taking to build critical road infrastructure?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Thank you to the member from Brampton North for the question.

Highway gridlock is a problem that continues to plague communities across Ontario. Why is that? It’s because successive Liberal governments simply chose not to invest and chose not to build, despite knowing the growth that was coming to this province.

Speaker, we know that the opposition is driven by an ideological opposition to new highways, and that is simply offside with where Ontarians are. People rely on cars to get to work, home and more, and if we don’t start building now, already-intense gridlock will only get worse for Ontario drivers.

The 401 is already the most congested highway in North America.

Within the next decade alone, all major highways in the region, including Highway 407, are expected to be at or to exceed capacity during rush hour.

Under the leadership of this Premier, our PC government is doing what the Liberals refused to get done years ago, and that’s build Highway 413.

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

Mr. Graham McGregor: Thank you for the answer to that question.

It’s clear that road congestion costs the economy billions of dollars annually and will only worsen as our population grows.

In 2019, the National Post reported that Toronto was North America’s fastest-growing city and Canada’s most congested city. Peel region and the surrounding communities have also faced the same predicament, as they are some of the fastest-growing in this province and equally the most congested.

My constituents value their time, and driving remains the fastest way to travel for most commuters, according to Statistics Canada data. That same Statistics Canada data shows that their drive time is increasing yearly.

What actions is the Minister of Transportation taking to build major highways in this province, helping to ease the congestion crisis that has dragged on for far too long?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Thank you again to the member for the question.

Gridlock is not just going to disappear, and neither is commercial traffic.

Building Highway 413 is just the kind of bold action we need to avoid the next generation of drivers being stuck in traffic. It’s a key piece of our government’s transportation plan that will make the difference between calling home to say that you’re stuck in traffic or tucking your kids into bed at night.

I am pleased with the support that we’ve received to date on this project, including from LIUNA’s international vice-president, Joseph Mancinelli, who said that our government “continues to demonstrate progressive leadership in investing in critical infrastructure, like Highway 413, that will aim to address future growth and demands of our municipalities,” and Todd Letts, CEO of Brampton’s board of trade, who commended our government for prioritizing projects like Highway 413.

Speaker, as we saw in this past election, support for Highway 413 is strong. Our government will get it done.

Long-term care

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

In February, 83-year-old Don Wilson slipped and cracked his pelvis. Four days after admission to London Health Sciences Centre, Don was transferred to a long-term-care home—a home that was in COVID outbreak, with only two PSWs for a ward of 30 residents, and no rehab services. Less than a week later, Don fell out of his LTC bed and was readmitted to hospital, where, tragically, on April 15, he passed away.

Is this the kind of trauma and grief that more families will face with Bill 7?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To respond, the Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Every example is tragic when it ends up in death. But the member opposite is talking about the past, and our government is focused on making improvements in the future.

We have talked and we have acted on home care in particular. I often talk about how, as a government, we are ensuring that hospitals have capacity, that community care has capacity, that long-term care has capacity, that primary care has capacity. We’re doing that through investments specifically related to home care.

I want to highlight the $1 billion that is in our most recent budget, which will ensure that 739 nursing visits are able to be provided in community—157,000 nursing shift hours in community; 117,000 therapy visits, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology, in community. It’s what people deserve. It’s what people expect. It’s what we are delivering.

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

Ms. Peggy Sattler: When Don’s wife, Jane Berges, heard about Bill 7, she contacted me to share her story. Jane and Don were told by the hospital that Don was being transferred to LTC and were not given any time to discuss or consider other options. Jane continues to live with the guilt that she didn’t say no, but she was overwhelmed and felt they had no choice—this was before the new powers under Bill 7 to admit patients to long-term care without their consent. No family should have to go through this.

Will the government do the right thing and withdraw Bill 7?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Speaker, I think that the member opposite is forgetting that the health care system, as a whole, needs to co-operatively work together for the patient. That is our goal, as a government.

I point to Anthony Dale from the Ontario Hospital Association, in reference, specifically, to alternate-level-of-care patients. Health care providers in Ontario are committed to working collaboratively with patients, with substitute decision-makers, families and caregivers during any transition into patient care.

We are transitioning people into their homes with sufficient community care support. We are transitioning patients into long-term-care homes with sufficient support. We’re getting it done because we understand, at the end of the day, alternate-level-of-care patients deserve better than sitting in a hospital waiting for their next transition.

Transportation infrastructure

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: My question is to the Minister of Transportation.

Last March, the ministry, without explanation, reported that the long-overdue replacement of Caledonia’s Argyle Street Bridge would be delayed another year. During an inspection in 2001, it was determined that the bridge was in a state of deterioration. Keep in mind, the current bridge was completed in 1927. It’s now over 20 years overdue and one and a half years since notice of delay by this government.

The approvals have been in place for many years, and yet the July 1 parade in Caledonia took an alternative route to avoid the bridge due to safety concerns.

The people of Caledonia, of Haldimand county, want to know what’s holding up the reconstruction of the Argyle Street Bridge.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: I thank the member opposite for the question. I want to assure her that completing the replacement of the Argyle Street Bridge is a priority for our government. As she correctly pointed out, this is a century-old bridge and its restoration is long overdue. Unfortunately, the Liberals had over a decade to take action and address this issue, but instead, they did nothing.

Mr. Speaker, as I’m sure the member opposite can appreciate, our government is doing its due diligence to ensure that we get this right before putting shovels in the ground. This includes consulting with First Nations communities that are potentially impacted by this project and conducting early work projects to conserve the Toll House and potential archaeological resources before the bridge replacement begins. This early work is slated to begin this fall.

Our government is making great progress to get shovels in the ground for this project. It is a priority for our government, and we will get it done.

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

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: Argyle Street is the main thoroughfare of Caledonia, and the bridge serves both local and commercial vehicles.

In 2019, the ministry set up stoplights at the bridge after the load posting was reduced to eight tonnes. These lights helped clear traffic in the event fire trucks must make a pass.

In August 2020, MTO boarded up the famous Toll House occupied by Lorrie Harcourt. The ministry claimed it needed to expropriate the property on the north side of the Grand River so reconstruction could begin. The ministry kicked this woman out of her home, and yet nothing is happening.

I fear a national headline if the ministry does not get to work.

The community has been waiting for over 20 years. The people of Caledonia are waiting for any government, perhaps this government, to make them a priority. We all want to know what is holding up the reconstruction of the Argyle Street Bridge.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: I want to be clear: The Ministry of Transportation only acquires properties that are absolutely necessary for the construction of a project. We are committed to treating all affected property owners fairly. Expropriation is a backstop measure only.

As the work on this project continues, we have taken interim measures to protect the safety of the travelling public who use the bridge. This includes implementing, as the member pointed out, further load restrictions for vehicles and completing temporary repair work that is necessary to maintain the serviceability of the bridge.

Mr. Speaker, we have been making great progress. The detailed design of the Argyle Street replacement is already complete, and now we’re in the process of obtaining the final approvals to proceed to construction.

We will not take any shortcuts when it comes to getting critical infrastructure built.

Manufacturing jobs / Small business

Ms. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

For over a decade, under the previous Liberal government, the citizens of Mississauga and the region of Peel were abandoned. We saw jobs leaving our region and infrastructure projects that needed repair never being prioritized.

Under the Liberals’ watch, many of my constituents were shut out of gainful employment. Unemployment among young people was worse in Ontario than in rust-belt states like Indiana and Ohio.

Speaker, my very own brother, a skilled automation specialist, left Ontario six years ago due to lack of economic opportunities and settled instead in British Colombia. We certainly could have used his skills right here in Ontario.

The citizens of Mississauga are hard-working and sacrifice every day to make Ontario a better place to live and grow.

What is our government going to ensure that my constituents have good, secure, well-paying jobs for themselves and their children years into the future?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: The Liberals and the NDP gave up on Ontario’s manufacturing. In the last economic report, hear their true intention: “shifting employment from goods-producing industries, in particular manufacturing, to service sector.” That’s what they intended to do. But we changed all that, Speaker, by lowering the cost of doing business by $7 billion annually. We lowered taxes. We cut red tape. We reduced their hydro rates.

That’s why investments in Mississauga keep on coming. Cyclone Manufacturing invested $21 million to re-shore from the US a project and create 60 aerospace jobs. Bora Pharmaceuticals invested $2.5 million in Mississauga to scale-up their operation. And there are dozens of auto-parts manufacturers who have invested in their companies through our auto modernization program. Mississauga is, again, where businesses are investing.

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

Ms. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: I thank the minister for his response. It is encouraging that our government is focusing on investments that are protecting Mississauga’s and Peel region’s tech and advanced manufacturing sectors.

But these are billion-dollar investments, which are possible only for a small number of large businesses. While these large businesses employ thousands of people in my riding, what about the small companies and the start-ups? Small businesses and start-ups are the backbone of our economic strength as a province.

I know many constituents whose small businesses—like Palma Pasta, Lazio Bakery, or Hub Climbing gym—are integral to what makes my riding work and thrive.

But as we all know, starting a business is hard work and is filled with risk.

What is our government doing to help entrepreneurs in my riding and city to start and grow their businesses?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Small businesses account for 98% of our economy and employ millions of families. Yet for 15 years, the Liberals and the NDP made small business ownership difficult and costly. We are on a mission to reverse the Liberal- and the NDP-era anti-business policies.

With our support, Mississauga’s entrepreneurs now have all the tools they need to grow their businesses. We’re providing Mississauga’s Small Business Enterprise Centre with $420,000 to support local companies, and another $112,000 to support Mississauga’s Summer Company and their Starter Company PLUS. These are companies that help students and young entrepreneurs start businesses of their own.

We want entrepreneurs to know that this government understands them and fully supports their success.

Long-term care

Miss Monique Taylor: My question is for the Premier.

Judy, who resides in a long-term-care residence in Hamilton, has reached out to my office, and her concerns are alarming. Judy tells me that the staff are overworked, beyond exhausted, and most are working double shifts due to staffing shortages. A few nights ago, there was one PSW on her floor, and she was left to work alone until 4 a.m., when an RN from a private agency was brought in. Thankfully, none of the 27 residents, including Judy, had a medical emergency, fall, or worse.

What is the Premier doing to ensure these homes are staffed to a level of safety and to a level that caregivers were promised for their loved ones?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Well, again, we started increasing staffing in our long-term-care homes in the last Parliament. The member opposite will know that we’ve increased funding by over $4.9 billion, because we are the first government in North America to go to a standard of four hours of care per day. The member opposite will remember that she voted against the increase in staffing, and she will remember that she voted against the increase in staffing for the homes in her own riding.

But more important than that, the member opposite was part of a caucus who supported a Liberal Party that, between 2009 and 2018, despite a report from the Auditor General suggesting that we had to do more for long-term care in 2012—the last three Liberal administrations—only managed to increase care for our seniors in homes by six minutes. Shameful.

We are on our way, and we will have four hours of care because of the investments that we have made, and that is a very—

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

Miss Monique Taylor: I assure this minister that I will vote against his bad bills each and every time—as I will Bill 7.

Not repealing Bill 124 and the push to move residents from ALC to long-term care are not going to solve the issue. PSWs are nervous and they’re fearful that they’re not able to provide the care necessary.

Judy goes on to tell me that she’s worried for her neighbours, other seniors, and their caregivers who visit daily to fill in the gaps. Her request was clear.

Premier, when will you admit the reality of long-term care and support and protect health care workers whom residents like Judy depend on?

Interjections.

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

The member for Kitchener–Conestoga, come to order. The member for Niagara West, come to order.

Restart the clock.

Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I know the member opposite will vote against improvements in long-term care, because the member voted against the increases in long-term-care capacity in her own riding. Additional beds? The member voted against that.

What this legislation does specifically is ensure that, for somebody who is a patient in a hospital and about to be discharged, we’re able to match up an appropriate home. So exactly what the member is talking about is what the whole point of this bill is. Looking at the services a person needs if they’re going to be discharged from a hospital—does the long-term-care home have the services that patient needs to care for them properly, to care for them better? It also includes $5 million of support this year, right now, for behavioural services of Ontario.

It includes $2.6 million of support for a partnership with Baycrest to have leading-edge behavioural services, and a $20-million local priorities fund to ensure that every home, frankly, has what the senior needs before they get there.

Skilled trades

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Ontario has more than 370,000 unfilled jobs, and there’s a rising need to replace retiring skilled tradespeople. A report from the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum suggests that Ontario needs to recruit 300,000 new skilled trades apprentices over the next decade just to keep up with the retirements.

Training new skilled trades workers must be a priority, and it’s crucial for us to promote the skilled trades among young people.

What is the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development doing to help more young people start careers in the skilled trades?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I want to thank the member from Essex for being such a strong voice for better jobs and bigger paycheques for the people of Essex.

Speaker, unlike those in other parties who want to “phase out” well-paying and in-demand careers, our government knows that our skilled trades workers are heroes and we need more of them. That is why we are leading the way with a historic investment of more than a billion dollars over the next three years. With this unprecedented funding increase, we’re working with employers and our labour partners to reduce the stigma around these meaningful careers and expand training opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, when you have a job in the trades, you really do have a job for life, and you can be damn proud of what you built.

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

Mr. Anthony Leardi: To the minister again: Traditionally, women represent less than 10% of skilled trade workers, and that’s just not enough. As we face a labour shortage, attracting and retaining women in the skilled trades will be very important to fill the labour gap.

My constituents in Essex are very happy that this government and this minister are providing free training for 500 people from under-represented groups in the trades, especially women. How is this investment going to remove barriers specifically for women, and also remove barriers for other under-represented groups in the skilled trades, and get people into those well-paying jobs and those rewarding careers in the skilled trades?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: This is a great question.

Our government is working every day to spread opportunity more widely and fairly to every corner of this province.

Pre-apprenticeships, like the member mentioned, really do lift people up and help them move off of social assistance and into a meaningful career—people like Nattisha, a single mom who got to buy the tools she needed and try different trades in the construction industry through the Hammer Heads program. She’s now making $44.08 an hour, with a defined pension and benefits. It’s truly a life-changing career for Nattisha. She has been able to buy a car. I remember talking to her, and she told me that for the first time in her life, her two daughters look up to her.

Mr. Speaker, we need more life-changing stories like Nattisha’s. That’s why we’re working every day. We’re on a mission to get more people into these amazing careers.

Tenant protection

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: My question is to the Premier.

My constituent Summer has contacted my office to express concern about the high temperature in her apartment. A candle in her apartment even melted of its own accord. The temperature must have hit at least 46 degrees Celsius or higher to melt a paraffin candle. Speaker, people will pass out from heat exhaustion or even die from heatstroke in this temperature.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission recently ruled, “Access to cooling during extreme heat waves is a human rights issue.”

Will the Premier today obey the human rights commission of this province, make air conditioning a vital service, and establish a maximum temperature in apartments? If not, why not?

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

Hon. Steve Clark: I want to thank the member for the question.

Our government appreciates the work of the human rights commission.

As the member noted, recently the human rights commission has issued a statement regarding air conditioning in apartments. We take those recommendations very seriously and will consider it, as we do when we look at issues regarding the Residential Tenancies Act.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary? The member for University–Rosedale.

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is back to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

I want to quote the Ontario Human Rights Commission:

“Access to cooling during extreme heat waves is a human rights issue....

“At most risk are people with disabilities, older people and low-income, Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities....

“This vulnerability is also compounded by social isolation and poverty....

“The Ontario Human Rights Commission calls on the government of Ontario to include air conditioning as a vital service, like the provision of heat, under RTA regulations....”

Over 500 people died in BC during their last heat wave, and the vast majority of them were elderly people who lived alone in un-air-conditioned apartments.

Will this government listen to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, make AC a vital service, and set a maximum temperature for homes?

Hon. Steve Clark: I want to thank the member for her comments and her interest. She has placed a number of housing recommendations in this House, and we appreciate that. We would hope that her party and herself would consider, as well, some of the amendments and proposals we’ve made. We’ve stood up for tenants on numerous times in this House. Her party, and her specifically, have voted against all of those measures. Every time we want to stand up and give tenants better compensation, we want to crack down on landlords who abuse tenants—every time we’ve done that, that member and her party have voted against it.

My question back to her: Are you going to support pro-tenant measures? Are you going to support landlord measures that we put into place? And do you want to build upon our success?

Skilled trades

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Mr. Speaker, since the 1990s, the involvement of women in the skilled trades has been less than 5% of the total workforce. A recent news

article detailed the challenges many women in the trades face. Poor retention was identified as a contributing factor for the low number of women in the field. That’s why we must increase female representation in the skilled trades.

Ontario has a massive skilled jobs crisis, and we need all hands on deck to help us build a stronger province.

Through you, Mr. Speaker, can the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity please inform the House of the progress made by our government in encouraging young women to enter the skilled trades?

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: Thank you to the member from Carleton for the question.

Mr. Speaker, I recently spoke to a young woman named Sophie, who shared with me a time when she had left her partner and was left with no job, no home and no financial stability. When she was in a shelter, she was able to access their back-to-work program, which enabled her to enter the carpentry trade. Now she is a successful journeyperson and is on the job site. Her credo has been, “If you can see me, you can be me,” and she is inspiring other young women to enter the trades so that they can experience the same rewards and financial stability that she has.

Women like Sophie show us the progress that our investments and programs are making. And they need us to accelerate their efforts so that more women can follow in their footsteps and see further progress in changing the landscape of the trades.

I’ve said it before on this floor: Women belong in all places, in all spaces, and at every table. That includes a construction site.

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

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Thank you to the associate minister.

Speaker, a career in skilled trades has countless benefits. Jobs in this field are in high demand, pay well, and will comprise 20% of jobs by 2025.

I recall travelling in Ottawa with the Minister of Labour in the previous legislative session. It was very inspiring to see so many young women in the trades when we visited IBEW as well as when I visited the steelworkers.

Mr. Speaker, can the minister please share details on the programs put in place by our government to raise awareness and encourage young women to consider a career in the skilled trades?

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: Thank you again to the member opposite for the question.

Mr. Speaker, our government invested record amounts into the skilled trades strategy: $288 million in the 2021 budget; and $90 million in the 2021 fall economic statement; and not only that, but we have proposed an additional $114 million over the next three years through the 2022 budget. Within that, we’ve invested $22 million this year to enhance the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. These investments will help women and girls to explore the skilled trades and set them on a path towards financial stability.

As part of this funding, school boards can request additional funding to promote 14 trades in which women have been historically under-represented. That is why it is imperative that all members support the 2022 budget and help deliver the resources they need to not just get by in our economy but to get ahead in our economy.

Health care funding

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: My question is to the Premier.

Speaker, many of my constituents have reached out, horrified about creeping privatization and the overt destruction of our treasured public health care system under the Ford government.

Ryan wrote to me about how the care he received for his aortic stenosis would have cost at least $250,000. Without it, he would not be alive. He remains deeply thankful, but he worries about the deteriorating quality of health care and this government’s obvious movement towards profit-making in health care.

Will this government continue to destroy health care with their privatization agenda or finally fund health care and health care workers properly?

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

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Again, the member’s question gives me an opportunity to highlight the five-point plan that we have put in place and are driving towards efficiencies in innovation within our health care system—things like easing pressure on emergency departments by actually investing and launching new provincial emergency department peer-to-peer programs, investing over $300 million as part of the province’s surgical recovery.

We are encouraging innovation in our health care sector. Those ideas are coming forward for review and assessment, and we are making the investments to ensure people get the health care they need, when they need it, where they want it, which is in their community.

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

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: My question is back to the Premier—and through you, Speaker, respectfully, to the minister: How about you come up with a six-point plan and scrap Bill 124?

Underfunding health care by $1.8 billion last year was a destructive act, and so is Bill 124, and now the government claims the system they’ve been strangling is barely breathing. This government manufactured this crisis in order to promote privatization.

Heather wrote to me about her stepfather being pushed out of hospital into a for-profit long-term-care home, where they would then squeeze an additional $4,000 per month for his care.

Is this government morally and ethically comfortable padding the pockets of the private long-term-care industry and private, for-profit hospitals rather than fixing our public system and paying health care heroes what they deserve?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: The member opposite is, frankly, spinning a tale.

We have, through our actions, invested to ensure that today, right now, in the province of Ontario, there are 400 doctors practising in rural and northern Ontario who weren’t there three years ago.

We’ve invested to make sure that when internationally educated health care professionals want to practise in the province of Ontario and have submitted their application to the College of Nurses or the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario—we are acting to make sure that those are being assessed and given appropriate review quickly so that they can practise.

We know that there are people across Ontario who want to practise in health care in Ontario, and we’re expediting that process to ensure that we have those people in place where we need them.

Affaires francophones

M. Andrew Dowie: Ma question est pour la ministre des Affaires francophones.

Monsieur le Président, la pandémie a eu des répercussions importantes sur les petites entreprises de toute la province, dont plusieurs dans les communautés francophones. Pour beaucoup, ils sont encore confrontés aujourd’hui à des défis dans le cadre des problèmes de chaîne d’approvisionnement économique mondiale. J’ai entendu des histoires d’électeurs de ma circonscription de Windsor–Tecumseh et de nombreuses entreprises et groupes communautaires francophones qui ont eu du mal à joindre les deux bouts pendant cette période et comptaient sur le soutien de notre gouvernement pour rester à flot.

Nous devons nous assurer de donner des outils aux Ontariens, y compris les Franco-Ontariens, qui souhaitent contribuer à l’économie de notre province.

La ministre des Affaires francophones peut-elle expliquer ce que fait notre gouvernement pour soutenir les entreprises francophones alors que nous sortons de cette période d’incertitude économique?

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Je remercie le député de Windsor–Tecumseh pour sa question.

En plus de la création du fonds de secours COVID-19, qui a soutenu les organismes francophones sans but lucratif pendant la pandémie, notre gouvernement a aussi bonifié le Programme d’appui à la francophonie ontarienne, le PAFO, en le doublant. Nous avons aussi mis sur pied la Stratégie de développement économique francophone, avec maintenant 38 programmes permettant de mieux appuyer les entrepreneurs francophones.

Le Programme d’appui à la francophonie ontarienne vise à soutenir le développement à long terme des communautés francophones de l’Ontario. Monsieur le Président, grâce à une enveloppe budgétaire maintenant de deux millions de dollars, ce programme appuie le dynamisme des communautés francophones au niveau local et au niveau régional.

De plus, l’accès à une main-d’oeuvre bilingue qualifiée est un défi réel pour nos entreprises, et c’est pour cette raison que notre gouvernement demande au gouvernement fédéral plus de contrôle sur l’immigration, pour qu’on puisse appuyer leur opération et leur croissance.

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

M. Andrew Dowie: Merci, madame la Ministre.

La population francophone de l’Ontario est une composante essentielle de notre composition culturelle. C’est pourquoi nous devons promouvoir la francophonie ontarienne comme un atout économique important dans la croissance de l’économie de la province. Ce faisant, nous pouvons nous assurer que nous améliorons le réseautage entre les entreprises, les entrepreneurs et les organisations essentielles pour augmenter les opportunités commerciales et les alliances stratégiques.

Monsieur le Président, la ministre pourrait-elle nous parler des avantages économiques du premier réseau provincial d’affaires franco-ontarien?

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Notre gouvernement apporte des solutions concrètes en reconnaissant l’atout économique important que représente la francophonie ontarienne.

En 2020-2021, par le biais d’un investissement initial de 500 000 $, nous avons soutenu la création de la Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario, de ses services de conciergerie et de sa plateforme de marketing en ligne, Quartier d’affaires, qui soutient la promotion des biens et des services des entreprises franco-ontariennes.

Depuis, grâce à un investissement de 1,5 million de dollars sur trois ans, l’Ontario élargit la gamme de services de soutien aux entreprises et aux entrepreneurs francophones. Monsieur le Président, ces initiatives visent à aider les entreprises francophones de l’Ontario à saisir les occasions d’affaires ici et dans les marchés francophones à l’extérieur de l’Ontario et à faire rayonner la francophonie dans nos communautés et aussi au-delà de l’Ontario.

Mental health and addiction services

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: My question is to the Premier.

Today, on August 31, we recognize International Overdose Awareness Day, an annual campaign to end overdose, to remember those lives we have lost to addictions, and to acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.

In my community, the Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy group has released five alerts already this year due to a high number of opioid-related emergency department visits and overdoses.

In 2021, 66 people in Windsor–Essex lost their lives to overdoses.

My question is this: How many lives must be lost before this government takes action to address this crisis?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Yes, today is International Overdose Awareness Day. I want to begin by reflecting and thinking about the families who have lost loved ones and the pain and the suffering that they are experiencing as a result of those losses.

I also want to reflect and think on the things that we have done as a government and continue to do—and that’s the investments we make through the Addictions Recovery Fund, the $90 million that went into ensuring that there are supports and services. We’ve invested in 400 beds and 7,000 treatment spots. These are all investments that are being made by the government because it recognizes the importance of providing the supports for mental health and for addictions in the province of Ontario.

I’m also reflecting on the fact that it’s this government that is making these significant investments—not former governments, which left the province of Ontario in shambles, and not providing supports and services that are needed.

It’s important that we continue thinki